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College of Natural Resources
One of the wolf statues at the Park Alumni Center stands in front of fall leaves.

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If you're interested in promoting sustainability or working outdoors, the College of Natural Resources has a program that will help you pursue your passion.

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Undergraduate Programs

If you have a passion for sustainability and the environment, we have an academic major to match.

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Graduate Programs

Take your career to the next level as a researcher or manager in higher education, business, industry and government.

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Visit Us

We offer a variety of virtual and in-person  opportunities for you to connect with us and learn more about our college.

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#4 College in the Nation

for studying natural resources and conservation

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#1 Best Value

NC State is the best public university for your money in North Carolina

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Meet the Dean

Myron Floyd - Dean College of Natural Resources at NC State

Dr. Myron F. Floyd

Dr. Floyd previously served as Department Head of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management and brings over 35 years of academic experience to the college.

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Departments

Students in the field- Career Connections - College of Natural Resources at NC State University

Forestry and Environmental Resources

Pursue your passion for the environment

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Research Staff Richard Vendetti - Research -College of Natural Resources NC State University

Forest Biomaterials

Create sustainable products

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students in gym - Sport Management - College of Natural Resources at NC State University

Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management

Make our communities stronger

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Center for geospatial analytics

Geospatial research - Parks Recreation and Tourism Management at NC State

Visualizing Our World

We’re using data-driven spatial modeling and cutting-edge visualization to pioneer solutions to environmental and societal changes.

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Trailblazer Magazine

A bi-annual publication celebrating the latest innovations, scholarships and research at the NC State College of Natural Resources.

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read our Latest news

More News

Study Raises Questions About Access to Urban Parks During the Pandemic

A study led by researchers from NC State found the use of outdoor parks and trails in urban areas of North Carolina declined in the summer of 2020. 

Grant Will Fund Climate Resilience Strategies for Frontline Communities in the Carolinas

NC State leads a multi-institutional effort to develop climate resilience solutions in frontline communities in the Carolinas. 

NC State to Lead Global Research Effort to Develop Sustainable Fibers

The Sustainable and Alternative Fibers Initiative (SAFI) aims to study, develop and promote the utilization of alternative fibers for packaging, hygiene, textiles and other products. 

Upcoming Events

All Events
Nov 01

Monday12:50 PM

Seminar: Lindsey Smart, The Nature Conservancy
Nov 08

Monday12:50 PM

Seminar: NCSU Student Research Presentations
Nov 09

Tuesday5:30 PM

Special Topic Information Session: The Impact of Sustainability in the Industry

ncstatecnr

NC State CNR

Another great park to see fall foliage this year without the crowds is Haw River State Park. 😍🍂

Four ...

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Another great park to see fall foliage this year without the crowds is Haw River State Park. 😍🍂 Four scenic trails await visitors at Haw River State Park, located in Browns Summit, North Carolina, north of Greensboro. Established in 2005, this unique park offers miles of hiking trails and boardwalks, picnicking, fishing, paddling and environmental education through its Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center. Haw River is another great park for birding, with several species to be spotted, including the great blue heron, the belted kingfisher and the pileated woodpecker. If you enjoy wetlands, head on over to the boardwalk, which meanders through a wide expanse of wetlands to the headwaters of the Haw River. The park is situated on approximately 1,400 acres of wetlands and uplands. 📸: elenm1 on Flickr

Heading over to western NC anytime soon? Make sure to make a stop at Elk Knob State Park, a great place to #leafpeep ...

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Heading over to western NC anytime soon? Make sure to make a stop at Elk Knob State Park, a great place to #leafpeep this fall at @ncstateparks without a big crowd.🍁🍂 Located near the Tennessee border in Todd, North Carolina, Elk Knob is a picturesque mountain escape. Established in 2003, the state park is situated in the Appalachian Mountains. At 5,520 feet, Elk Knob is considered one of the tallest peaks in North Carolina’s high country. Hikers can enjoy 5.4 miles of trails, from easy hikes to the strenuous Summit Trail which offers views of Mount Jefferson, Mount Mitchell, Grandfather Mountain, the Iron Mountains in Virginia and Tennessee, and more. Elk Knob is also home to a wide variety of wildlife, from the golden-winged warbler to the white-tailed deer. Rare and endangered plants can also be seen, such as Gray’s lily, trailing wolfsbane, the large purple fringed orchid, and spreading avens. Beyond hiking, visitors can enjoy picnicking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

‘21 @NCStateAlumni Audrey Keen found her passion in the fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology program. Read how...

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‘21 @NCStateAlumni Audrey Keen found her passion in the fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology program. Read how #NCStateCNR set her up for success at @marinemollusks_ncsm and make sure to join her tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 20, on our Instagram Story as she highlights her work and as a pre-Halloween treat, some deep-sea creatures she works with on a daily basis. 🦑 “The animals I learn about here excite me, and I love to share what I learn with others. Whether I’m giving a tour of our lab, talking to coworkers or friends, posting on social media or even talking to a stranger, I might manage to talk about mollusks. Any awareness about these inverts is awesome. One thing I experienced while being here is that my boss, Art Bogan, identified zebra mussels on moss balls that were being sold in pet stores. The identification of species, curation of data and locality are all important for proper conservation applications and awareness of human impact — locally and globally. What I learned about in the College of Natural Resources has really set me up for success so far. Learning about taxonomy and how to identify animals has helped me be able to look out for identifying characteristics, and proper scientific nomenclature. Our Geographical Information System (GIS), science communication and other conservation courses are applicable when I’m working on our social media, organizing specimens in the range and using various mapping programs while databasing.” — @audrey_parkerr #HowlBack 🐺🐾

Another great place to #leafpeep without the crowds is Jordan Lake Educational State Forest. 😍🍁🍂

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Another great place to #leafpeep without the crowds is Jordan Lake Educational State Forest. 😍🍁🍂 One of seven Educational State Forests operated by the North Carolina Forest Service, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest offers a unique experience in the outdoors. Located in Chapel Hill, the 900-acre state forest is located beside the nearly 14,000-acre Jordan Lake. We highly recommend the other six Educational State Forests across the state as well, as these tend to be smaller forests with self-guided trails with exhibits, tree identification signs, forest education centers and talking tree trails for children — or those who are still young at heart. Within the forest, visitors can take in the beauty of the area and the wildlife that call it home, including songbirds, flying squirrels and beavers. With a few short trails and the two-mile Forest Demonstration Trail, you’re sure to enjoy great views of the lake.

Some of the best places to view foliage at its peak are North Carolina’s state parks, county parks and city parks. ...

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Some of the best places to view foliage at its peak are North Carolina’s state parks, county parks and city parks. This year, fall foliage will peak across the inland regions of North Carolina between October 12 and 28. Along the coast, foliage is expected to peak between October 19 and November 4. We’ve compiled a list of some destinations in North Carolina where you can enjoy a good show of fall color without the crowds, so follow along on our Instagram over the next several days. If you’re looking for scenic walks through a forest to contemplate life’s beauty and mysteries, then look no further than Carvers Creek State Park in Spring Lake, North Carolina. Here, longleaf pine forests offer nine trails of varying lengths, from a half-mile trail known as Dead End Spur Trail to the scenic 4-mile Longleaf Pine Trail. Carvers Creek is the perfect site for birding, where all eight species of woodpeckers can be found, along with several other bird species. Established in 2005, the park encompasses more than 4,000 acres and offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking and fishing. You can also see historic structures like the Rockefeller House, the former winter vacation home of James Stillman Rockefeller, the late great-nephew to John D. Rockefeller of Stanford Oil and 1924 gold medal Olympian for rowing.

Give a warm welcome to our new recruitment coordinator Ellie Rinehart 👋 Ellie is a '20 sport management ...

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Give a warm welcome to our new recruitment coordinator Ellie Rinehart 👋 Ellie is a '20 sport management @NCStateAlumni who is currently pursuing her master's degree with @ncstateprtm. "The College of Natural Resources provided me with a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience for me to be able to succeed in this role. While I was a student in CNR, I got to participate in a variety of different programs, internships, and events that the College offered. I am most excited about meeting prospective students and being to showcase how great the College of Natural Resources is. We have so much to offer here at the College and I can't wait to assist students in calling CNR home." — @ellie_rinehart #HowlBack 🐺🐾

Meet Wilson Xiong, a former Doris Duke Conservation Scholar and ‘16 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, ...

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Meet Wilson Xiong, a former Doris Duke Conservation Scholar and ‘16 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology in @ncstate_fer. 👋 Since graduation, Wilson has worked on fisheries monitoring and research projects on the East and West Coasts, as well as the Caribbean. He has also worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is currently working in the Fangue and Rypel Lab for the University of California, Davis. We caught up with Wilson to learn more about what drew him to conservation and how he hopes to promote diversity within conservation. “Growing up as a first-generation Hmong American, I didn’t have much. I was introduced to fishing and hunting by my father to provide food for my family. Being outside around nature, I knew I always wanted a job that allowed me to work outdoors. Conservation issues that interest me are fisheries management and finding new innovative ways to conserve natural resources. I hope to promote diversity within conservation by being a resource to fellow Doris Duke Conservation Scholars (DDCSP) members and future conservationists. Currently, I am the administrator for the DDCSP Collaborative Mentoring program. I help current members engage with other members who have already been through the program to give guidance. In my free time, I help people of color in the field of conservation with job applications, CV reviewing, and have deep conversations about conservation issues. I hope to bring diversity awareness in the field of conservation as much as possible.”

#TBT to the dog days of summer. No matter the season, Ol’ State is the perfect place to be. 🔴⚪ @NCState ...

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#TBT to the dog days of summer. No matter the season, Ol’ State is the perfect place to be. 🔴⚪ @NCState #NCStateOnCampus

Meet Eanas Alia, a former Doris Duke Conservation Scholar and ‘16 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in environmental...

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Meet Eanas Alia, a former Doris Duke Conservation Scholar and ‘16 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in environmental technology and management in @ncstatefb. 👋 During her time in the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, Alia researched saltwater wedges in Puerto Rico and worked as a laboratory technician for the South Florida Water Management District. She now works as an environmental analyst at Kimley-Horn, a planning and design consulting company. We caught up with Eanas to learn more about her time in the program and what drew her to conservation. “Conservation is a big element of my beliefs and responsibility to be a steward of the land. My mother came from a farming family, so there was an integral part of respect and acknowledgment of the importance of conservation for all living things. Water quality and land management are the conservation issues that interest me most. They are critical to survival and are a right for every human as far as food, water and shelter. My cohort traveled around North Carolina and Puerto Rico during the summer of 2014. We participated in Stone Mountain Trout Day, conducted a bird count in the mountains of Tennessee, studied American oystercatchers at Cape Hatteras, and did research and collected samples in Puerto Rico. To say it was life-changing is an understatement. You can imagine the different scientists we got to meet, and the amount of cultural and natural experiences that took place within such a diverse summer. It was hard to pick just one experience, but that first summer in the program will always be one of the best summers of my life.”

Stay tuned to our Instagram Stories throughout next Monday, Oct. 4, for a takeover by #NCStateCNR student ...

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Stay tuned to our Instagram Stories throughout next Monday, Oct. 4, for a takeover by #NCStateCNR student @claire.hammontree, a senior in paper science and engineering in @ncstatefb and @ncsutappi member. Claire will be live from TAPPICon in Atlanta, Ga., for an inside look into a day at the annual pulp and paper conference. #CNRStudentTakeover #tappicon Update: Miss our takeover? Check it out under TAPPICon ‘21 in the Highlights section of our profile.