Case in Point

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Guiding Public Land Management

The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources (FER) often serves as an environmental impact assessment consultant to local or state agencies that are evaluating the impact of proposed development plans on public lands.

For example, at the request of the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, a recent task force composed of FER students and faculty performed an environmental assessment on a management plan for the DuPont Forest, a protected area that includes more than 10,000 acres of forest, trails, and waterfalls between Hendersonville and Brevard, NC.

The task force examined strategies for its development as a recreational center and suggested ways to balance that need with the desire to preserve its natual beauty. Their recommendations helped the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources build an effective management plan for this popular area.

Promo Area

Participating in real-world environmental impact assessment projects not only allows FER to give back to the State of North Carolina, it also provides students with invaluable training in the field — equipping them to make an immediate impact on the job once they graduate and obtain employment.

Key Contacts

Dr. Gary Blank
FER-NC State University
Box 8002
Raleigh, NC 27695
Phone: 919-515-7566
gblank@unity.ncsu.edu

Dr. Richard R. Braham
FER-NC State University
Box 8002
Raleigh, NC 27695-8002
Phone: 919-515-7568
richard_braham@ncsu.edu