Email Newsletter from the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory at Duke University
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Apply Now to Join Our 7th Year of Herpetofauna Community Science! |
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Do you love animals? Interested in contributing to scientific research? Want to get out in the Forest on a weekly basis? Join the Herpetofauna Program to monitor amphibians and reptiles at specific sites in the Duke Forest!
Why is participating in the Herp Program meaningful?
Reptiles and amphibians—collectively known as herpetofauna or herps—are key indicators of the effects of climate change and habitat fragmentation on wildlife. Over time, data that community scientists collect allows us to better understand current herp populations in the Duke Forest, and data is shared with wildlife biologists, faculty, and students for teaching and research purposes. Over time, we hope to learn how to better manage the Forest so that these animals thrive.
What does it take to be involved?
We are seeking dedicated community scientists who will commit to the entire program from late February through October 2025. Volunteers are placed into teams. Every week, teammates coordinate with one another, and at least two people per team must conduct one monitoring visit in the field, plus computer-based data entry at home. On average, the total time commitment per week is ~1-2 hours (excluding travel time).
We encourage returning volunteers and new volunteers of all experience levels to apply to participate (you don’t have to be a herp expert!). The application deadline is January 26th.
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Find Your Pathway to Connect with Duke Forest |
Checkout this new video produced in partnership with Working@Duke. This video addresses benefits and engagement opportunities for our campus community but the information applies broadly to any community member interested in the Duke Forest.
Watch this short video to discover how to stay informed, explore programs to learn about and connect with nature, and find meaningful volunteer opportunities!
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From Sapling to Stand: Maintaining the Harvest Cycle |
Shortly before the holiday break, our staff dedicated a morning to planting Loblolly pines along a rerouted forest road in the Durham Division. These saplings replaced several young pines that had to be removed while installing a new gravel road. We expect these newly planted saplings to catch up to the surrounding young pines within a few years, allowing us to maintain the same harvest schedule for the stand.
The management plan for this stand includes pre-commercial thinning, followed by first and second thinnings at 10- to 15-year intervals, and a final harvest when the trees reach around 60 years of age. To learn more about our timber management practices, please visit our website.
Additionally, be sure to check out a video featuring Zach Carnegie, our Forest Technician, who shares his expertise on tree health and planting techniques in rocky soil. The video is available on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Together, we are committed to stewarding our incredible forest and ensuring its prosperous future!
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We are delighted to welcome Erin Hecht to the Duke Forest Team as the Senior Program Coordinator! Erin brings over 12 years of experience leading volunteer programs, mentoring student interns, facilitating research, and engaging with the public at the Duke Lemur Center. Her experience and leadership will ensure that the Forest’s Volunteer and Community Science programs will continue to grow and thrive. Erin holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and Policy from the University of Maryland, and a Graduate Certificate in Geographical Information Systems from North Carolina State University.
“This is such an exciting time to join the Duke Forest Team, just as our Community Science program is about to begin for the season! I look forward to meeting our new and returning herpetofauna volunteers and getting to know our Forest Stewards as that program gets going later this year.”
Erin is excited to engage with all of you. She can be reached by email at erin.hecht@duke.edu or by phone at 919-613-7451. Please join us in welcoming Erin to the Team!
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Our small team stays busy maintaining and managing this incredible land base for teaching, research, public engagement, sustainable natural resource use, and conservation. Some of the ongoing or upcoming things on our field crew's list are:
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Mission Action and Support
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- Infrastructure maintenance and repair in response to cold temperatures and rental turnovers.
- Boundary line maintenance and upkeep, including clearing, re-marking, and re-signing the line, in the Edeburn Division.
- Addressing and resolving property encroachment issues identified during boundary work.
- Preparing and implementing a timber cruise for a timber sale in the Hillsboro Division.
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- Maintain shelters between rentals.
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Become a Friend of the Duke Forest with a $50+ gift in support of our mission! Read More
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The Duke Climate Commitment is a university-wide, impact-oriented initiative to address the climate crisis by creating sustainable and equitable solutions that place society on the path toward a resilient, flourishing, carbon-neutral world. Through education, research, external engagement and campus operations, the Duke Climate Commitment seeks to imagine, design, and implement a sustainable future for all.
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Duke University Box 90332 | Durham, NC 27708 US
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