The NFCC-RD is one of the four research directorates under Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD). It is mandated to undertake research on the natural forest ecosystems and climate change in the country.

Ethiopian forest resources are diverse and located across the country covering wide range of environmental and climatic factors. More than 90% of forest resources are categorized as natural forests and have great importance for the biodiversity they harbor, to adapt and mitigate climate change and for the ecosystem services they provide. Despite their huge ecological, economic and social importance threats like land-use change, climate change, forest fire, overgrazing charcoal and fuel wood production, and illegal wood harvest due to a growing human and animal population increasingly challenge the way in which forest can adapt to these changes and maintain and improve the delivery of ecosystem services, conserve biodiversity and adapt and mitigate climate change.

The main objective of the research directorate is to generate and/or adopt technologies, information and knowledge for sustainable management of high forests, woodlands and riparian ecosystems, to rehabilitate degraded natural forest ecosystems, for effective conservation of forest ecosystems and for adaptation and mitigation of climate change. The NFCC-RD is composed of three research projects to successfully implement its mandates and responsibilities. The three research projects are: Natural forest research projects; Climate change research projects and Forest fire and invasive species research projects. Each research project contributes to the scientific basis of sustainable utilization, conservation and management of natural forest ecosystems forests in Ethiopia, with the following main themes: