The Rural Technology Initiative (RTI) was established in 2000 by a federal grant as a pilot project to accelerate the implementation of new forestry technologies in rural forest resource-based communities. Increasing complexity from changing environmental regulations, such as Washington’s Forest and Fish Agreement, and the recognition that new research findings were well ahead of on-the-ground implementation, suggested the need for more rapid technology transfer. The University of Washington and Washington State University Cooperative Extension created RTI. AFRC, along with the Washington Contract Loggers Association, helped to secure the initial funding and serve on its advisory board.
In just two years, RTI’s accomplishments have been impressive. These include training in GIS, GPS, and UW’s Landscape Management System (LMS) technologies, the development of riparian habitat suitability models, practical tools for use in road maintenance and abandonment, and one of the best forestry websites around including new developments in precision forestry. This website also includes over 500 archived forestry images that are available for downloading. Check out the good things happening at RTI.
