Conservation & Restoration
FER Home : Conservation & Restoration
Each day, the earth’s biodiversity shrinks as environments are threatened and plant and animal species succumb to the pressures of human population growth, altered ecosystems, changing habitats, pollution and poor land management. The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources (FER) addresses these challenges through its interdisciplinary conservation and restoration area.
Conservation and restoration at NC State brings together the expertise of professionals skilled in a variety of ecological sciences — particularly wildlife ecology, forest management and environmental impact assessment. Our goal is to assess ecosystem-based environmental problems then develop effective conservation, restoration and management techniques in response.
Activities
Conservation and restoration plays a central role in FER's research, teaching and extension activities. Our hands-on academic programs promote sound ecological practices and create professionals skilled in restoring, conserving and managing wildlands, wetlands, protected public areas, forests and private property. Through research, we uncover solutions to environmental problems that challenge the health of animal and plant species and our outreach programs help spread the word on how the citizens of North Carolina can conduct their own conservation and restoration efforts. We are particularly well-known for our wetlands conservation expertise and for teaching the craft of restoring natural ecosystems. Internationally, our restoration experts often work on tropical forest restoration projects or the preservation and conservation of endangered tree species.
Conservation Focus
Our conservation activities focus on the restoration and management of wetlands as well as the planning and protection of green infrastructure in suburbanizing areas, with an emphasis on preserving these areas as habitats for wildlife species. Projects can range from specific, contained ecosystems all the way up to larger scope projects exploring such issues as open space planning policies, development regulations and the role of conservation science in local planning efforts.
Restoration Activities
Our restoration activities often involve assisting governments, federal and state agencies, industry, companies, non-profit organizations and private individuals in the recovery of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged or destroyed. We are particularly experienced in the ecology and restoration of Southeastern United States forests and those found in the New World tropics. These activities require extensive knowledge of various environments and life forms as well as community structure, cultural practices, historical context, economic demands, harvesting policies, performance monitoring techniques and more. Our ultimate goal is to restore the ecological integrity of ecosystems by preserving biodiversity, protecting ecological processes and structures, understanding the regional considerations and historical uses of a particular environment and allowing for sustainable cultural practices whenever possible.
Impact
Through our any activities, FER's conservation and restoration area is helping to better manage North Carolina’s 5 million acres of wetlands, its 19 million acres of forests and similar tracts of land throughout the Southeast. We are also helping to enhance the quality of life for millions of citizens, protecting the economic sustainability of lands around the world, restoring the habitats of dozen of wildlife species and conserving the viability of countless plant species through both in situ and ex situ conservation.
For more information on our conservation and restoration activities, please click on the links to the left.
