The FIA-FSP funds three major categories of work:

• Short- and long-term research to address issues related to growth and yield of forest products and services, the function of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and the management required to provide for sustainable ecosystem values and services
   
• infrastructure maintenance and re-measurement activities on selected long-term research installations that support single and multi-year research projects
   
• a provincial forest extension program to deliver existing and new knowledge to practitioners.
  

Research Funds

The allocation of research funds is based on the FIA-FSP strategic plan and annual priorities as determined through the FIA-FSP priority setting process. The largest proportion of available funds is allocated to single- and multi-year projects that address the annual priorities recommended by the CF-FSAC and the MFR Internal Advisory Group, and approved by the Chief Forester.

The maximum duration for a multi-year project is three years. Once approved, a multi-year project is funded for its full term based on the annual review of progress against deliverables and submission of an updated workplan and project timetable. Projects requiring longer than 3 years to complete must be resubmitted to compete in the annual Call for Proposals.

In recognition of the research benefits associated with long-term research installations, the CF-FSAC allocates a portion of its annual budget, as funding allows, to the maintenance of those installations that best support the identified research priorities.

Extension Funds

The CF-FSAC allocates a portion of its annual budget to the Provincial Forest Extension Program based on an annual PFEP business plan that outlines the delivery of new information resulting from research as well as existing information to users.