Professor Janaki Alavalapati, head of the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, and former graduate student Guillermo Trincado were honored by the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) at its World Congress last summer.

Alavalapati received the IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award for distinguished scientific achievement in the field of forestry research. His research focused on exploring market solutions to promote the sustainable use and management of forests and the environment at local, national, and international levels. “Dr. Alavalapati is highly regarded for his research in forest economics and his positive influence on forest policy. We are delighted to have him as a part of our faculty and leadership team,” remarked dean Paul Winistorfer.

Trincado (’04 M.S. in statistics, ’06 Ph.D. in forest biometrics), currently a professor at the Universidad Austral de Chile, was awarded the IUFRO Outstanding doctoral Research Award for his state-of- the-art quantitative analysis of the dynamics of first-order branches and knot formation on loblolly pine trees. One of his models represents a significant advancement in the field of quantifying wood characteristics and relating those characteristics to silvicultural practices. “It was a genuine pleasure to have Guillermo as part of our graduate program, and this recognition is well deserved,” said Professor Harold Burkhart, Trincado’s advisor.