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APPENDIX 2 REPORTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CENTERS Page Rural technology Initiative (RTI) 2 Northwest Environmental Forum (NWEF) 23 Water Center (WC) 20 Stand management Cooperative (SMC) 37 Precision Forestry Cooperative (PFC) 54 Wind River Canopy Crane (WRCC) 68 Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) 105 Center for Sustainable Forestry at pack Forest (CSPPF) 131 University of Washington Botanical Gardens (UWBG) 151 Center for International Trade in Forest Products (CINTRAFOR) 165 RURAL TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE (RTI): STRATEGIC PLAN (DECEMBER 2008) Contents: History and Current Setting Comparative Advantages and Focus Areas for the Future Constituent Support Collaboration with other units Serving the Colleges Goals Funding History Future Funding Targets Organization and Leadership HISTORY AND CURRENT SETTING: RTI was established in January 2000 by a federal grant as a pilot project to accelerate the implementation of new technologies in rural forest resource-based communities. Increasing complexity from changing environmental regulations, such as the Forest and Fish Agreement in Washington State, and the recognition that new research findings are well ahead of implementation suggested the need for more rapid technology transfer. Efforts to mitigate the substantial widening gap between urban and rural incomes depend upon more successful technology transfer as well. It was recognized that the University of Washington (UW) did not have base funding for such activities yet had technology that could be implemented so a program was developed jointly with Washington State University (WSU) Cooperative Extension with the support of a Rural Advisory Board. Initial funding was made possible by a Congressional Appropriation through USDA - Forest Service Cooperative Programs. The RTI program won awards for transferring tech