The Institute for Natural Resources (INR) is a cooperative enterprise that acts as a catalyst by bringing together decision makers and researchers and developing partnerships with state, federal, tribal and local decision makers and the talented faculty of Oregon’s higher education institutions.

Created by the Oregon Legislature with the Oregon Sustainability Act of 2001, the Institute works to provide Oregon leaders with ready access to current, science-based information and methods for better understanding our resource management challenges and developing solutions. The Institute expands OSU’s leadership role in coordinating research, supporting policy analysis, and facilitating information-sharing, and actions, by partnering with natural resources agencies, other universities, private businesses, conservation groups, and local to national levels of government. Collaborative projects include working closely with the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to carry out parts of the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds by jointly developing access to integrated natural resources data and by developing a pilot conservation strategy for the Willamette Basin under a major grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust.

Gail Achterman is the Director of the Institute for Natural Resources. She has formed an Advisory Board and as needed, ad-hoc working groups will be created to guide specific projects. The administrative offices for the Institute are on the Oregon State University campus in Corvallis, Oregon.

Two programs comprise the Institute for Natural Resources: Policy Research and Information.