Monthly Newsletter of the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory at Duke University
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Duke Forest's Senior Program Coordinator, Maggie Heraty, leading Spring Breakthrough students on the Shepherd Nature Trail. Photo by Bill Snead, Duke Communications.
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Spring Breakthrough and Climate-Focused Collaborations
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As announced in the 2023 Duke Forest LOG and at our Annual Gathering, the Office of the Duke Forest now sits under the new Office of Climate and Sustainability (OCS) at Duke University. Led by Vice President and Vice Provost Toddi Steelman, OCS helps formally connect the Duke Forest, the Duke Campus Farm, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Sustainable Duke, and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Under the OCS umbrella, these units enhance the capacity and collaborative efforts dedicated toward advancing Duke’s Climate Commitment.
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Since late last year, Senior Program Coordinator Maggie Heraty has collaborated with OCS colleagues to create and lead a Climate & Sustainability Spring Breakthrough for undergraduates. During their spring break in March, thirteen undergraduates participated in an exploration of sustainability and climate action across Duke and beyond. Maggie led a half-day experience in the Duke Forest that involved a guided walk at the Shepherd Nature Trail, a silent listening activity, and some data collection at one of the Forest’s herpetofauna research transects. These activities highlight the Duke Forest’s role in facilitating climate-focused teaching and research, protecting biodiversity, and stewarding natural resources. Read more about this Spring Breakthrough experience here.
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Maggie instructs students in proper data collection procedures for monitoring herpetofauna—the collective term for reptiles and amphibians—in the Duke Forest.
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OCS Spring Breakthrough students visited a variety of sites across Duke University and the city of Durham. Here, students join Duke Campus Farm staff to plant rows of kale during a day-long experience focused on sustainable food systems.
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Our staff also regularly collaborate with OCS and the Duke Climate Commitment on other efforts. Executive Director Sara Childs and Assistant Director of Teaching & Research Lee Anne Reilly both serve on the education and research sub-committees of the Climate Commitment Advisory Council, and Operations Coordinator Tim Barco recently joined the OCS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee, focused on sharing resources and best practices on equitable hiring, training, and more across our units.
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We look forward to more collaboration with our OCS partner units as well as departments across Duke University to advance our mission and amplify Duke’s Climate Commitment.
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Annual Flora & Fauna Tour – May 4th
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Join the Duke Forest for our annual Flora and Fauna tour, led jointly by Duke Forest Executive Director Sara Childs and Dr. Nicki Cagle from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Enjoy a morning hiking along the forested slopes and rocky banks of New Hope Creek within the Korstian Division. With Nicki and Sara’s guidance, discover new species, find what’s in bloom, and learn a few plant- and animal-identification tips along the way. Space is limited.
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An expansion of the Meadow Flats area in the Blackwood Division demonstrates our commitment to habitat connectivity.
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Since 2015, we have been providing updates on a collaborative effort we’ve spearheaded alongside terrific partners to map, maintain, and restore a connected natural network across our region. One of our founding collaborators, the Eno River Association, is providing an opportunity to learn more about wildlife corridors and their role in ensuring the long-term protection and resilience of biodiversity and natural resources. See below for more details:
Eno River Association presents Virtual Lunch and Learn: Wildlife Corridors - Friday, April 26 from 12pm-1pm
What are wildlife corridors and why are they important? What types of animals use them? How are we working to ensure that native wildlife species have connected habitat? Join us for a virtual lunch and learn session for the answers to these questions and more! RSVP here.
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Our small team stays busy maintaining and managing this incredible land base for teaching, research, timber production, conservation, and community engagement. Some of the things on our field crew's list this month include:
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Mission Action and Support
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- Removing a 110-year-old White Ash tree killed by Emerald Ash Borer near the Maintenance Shop.
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Preparing an upcoming final harvest in the Dailey Division and a commercial thinning in the Durham Division.
- Conducting a prescribed burn in the Blackwood Division.
- Continuing to assess and remark boundary lines in the Hillsboro Division.
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Treating and assessing invasive species, such as Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Fig Buttercup (Ficaria verna).
- Replacing rotted coverboards at herpetofauna research transects.
- Cutting logs for fungal inoculations by a Duke Biology faculty member.
- Replacing cutting teeth on the side mount mower in preparation for mowing season.
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- Working through multiple trespassing issues in restricted research areas.
- Maintaining shelters between rentals.
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Duke Forest is a sustainably managed land base. One approach to maintaining species composition and forest structure is the use of prescribed fire. Prescribed burns require careful planning and very specific weather conditions to be done safely. Here, Tim Barco and Lee Anne Reilly are suited up in fire-resistant gear, waiting for Forest Supervisor Tom Craven to give the go-ahead for a low intensity burn in the Blackwood Division.
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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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