November 15, 2012

DUKE FOREST ANNUAL GATHERING

AGENDA

Welcome

Introductions

Announcements

Presentations

•The Year in Review

• Special Projects Highlight • Questions and discussion

• Fire in the Forest • Presented by Norm Christensen and Jake Pressley

•Clarence Korstian Award • Presented to the Godiva Track Club

The Year in Review

2011 - 2012

THE DUKE FOREST MISSION

Facilitate research that addresses fundamental and applied questions concerning forested and aquatic ecosystems

Aid in the instruction of students so that they will be informed citizens and effective stewards of our natural resources We also work to…

• Sustainably manage timber • Protect natural and cultural resources • Offer educational and volunteer events • Provide recreation opportunities

RESEARCH SUMMARY

• 79 (63) current projects

• 58 (52) principle investigators

• 17 (20) institutions/affiliations

• $5.4 (~$5 ) million in research funding

CURRENT RESEARCH

Allan Bacon – Nicholas School

• Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Dr. Daniel Richter

• Searching for redoximorphic soil features

• Understanding the role of these features in carbon storage

CURRENT RESEARCH

Dr. Justin Wright – Duke Biology

• Investigating climate change effects on rates of old-field succession

• Sites replicated across latitudinal gradients in the east

Kiddie-pools as raised beds!

TEACHING SUMMARY

• 3,454 (2,156) student visits

• From: Duke, UNC, NC A&T University, NC School of Science and Math, Durham Academy, Carolina Friends School, Forest View Elementary

FOREST MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

Activity FY 11-12 (acres) FY 10-11 (acres)

Pre-commercial Thinning 0 21.8

Commercial Thinning 9.3 0

Regeneration Harvests 85.1 124.9

Seed tree 0 61.0

Seed tree removals 69.2 0

Selection 15.9 17.2

Clear-cuts 0 46.7

Herbicide 98.4 127.4

Release 74.9 97.2

Invasive control 23.5 30.2

Prescribed Burning 24.0 27.0

Understory 24.0 27.0

Planting 18.0 17.0

Other Cultural 52.7 0

Manual invasive removal 34.7 0

Stand improvement 18.0 0

TOTALS 287.5 318.1

FOREST MANAGEMENT continued…

Road Maintenance

• Mowing 35 miles

• Grading, regular 3.2 miles

• Grading, logging repair 2.2 miles

• New construction 0.1 miles

• Culverts replaced 2

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - 2012 Certification

Annual Audit – October 11, 2012

• Required an Analysis of High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF) Areas

o “FSC introduced the concept of HCVFs in 1999 to ensure identification and proper management of forest areas with exceptional conservation value. Once identified, HCVFsare managed to protect and maintain their identified high conservation value attributes.”

o Involved extensive consultation with experts and stakeholders

Thanks to all of you in this room that participated!!!

o A public summary is available on the website or by email request

No Corrective Actions Required

CURRENT MANAGEMENT

Deer Herd Reduction Program • 2004 spotlight survey: 60 deer/mi2 with areas up to 80/mi2 - recommended populations 15-20/mi2

• Background research

• 2005: limited hunt as feasibility study

• 2008: 1st hunting season, 75 deer taken

• 2009: 2nd season, 86 deer taken

• 2010: 3rd season, 123 deer taken

• 2011: 4th season, 81 deer taken

• Participation in NC Wildlife Resources Commission

Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP)

• Data indicates gradual herd reduction

• 2012: 5th season, 35+ deer taken to date

• Closed to recreation weekdays from Sep 24 through Dec 14

- 1 week shorter than last year

• Durham, Korstian, and Blackwood

• Spotlight survey planned for Feb - Mar

New signage…

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SUMMARY

• 21 (37) Field trips, tours, and presentations • 461 (802) Participants

A group of women scientists learned about the Duke Forest while in town for a conference hosted at the

National Evolutionary Synthesis Center

Annual Flora and Fauna Tour

Annual Research Tour

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SUMMARY

• 9 (10) Volunteer events • 100 (114) Participants

Volunteers from the Triangle Society for Conservation Biology removing loblollies from a longleaf plot.

Durham Academy students work to preserve the natural character of a Natural Heritage site by removing trash.

UPCOMING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Annual tours

• Fall - Research (Friday, December 7)

• Winter - History (January-February)

• Spring - Flora and Fauna (April)

• Summer - Management (June-July)

Two new tours!

• Late winter – Geology with Bill Kaiser

• Late spring – Ecosystem Services

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

• Research Tour

oFriday, December 7, 2012

• 4th Annual Pine Cone Pacer 5K

oSaturday, April 13, 2013

----------------------------------------------

For details and to register go to our

website www.dukeforest.duke.edu or

call 613-8013

Check the website frequently for

additional events or sign up for our

Event Listserv

Korstian Trail Project Restoring our trails,

Protecting our environment

A Special Projects Highlight

WH

ER

E

WHY

The Red Salamander

Catawba Rhododendrons

Riparian area falls within a state level Significant Natural Heritage Area

New Hope Creek itself is a state level Aquatic Significant Natural Heritage

Area

WHY

Soil erosion Soil loss

Soil compaction Exposed roots

WHAT

Design-Build-Restore • Expert and public stakeholder consultation • New trails, reroute and/or close existing trails

Signage • Announcement signs to be posted • New signage to mark the trail system and highlight special areas

Education and Outreach • Providing opportunities to learn, participate, and comment • New maps!

dukeforestproject.wordpress.com

WHAT

Volunteer Coordination • Nicholas School groups

• Boy and Girl Scouts

• Public days

Teaching and Research • Duke undergraduate class projects • Rhododendron Bluff Restoration

• Road Reclamation/Revegetation

• Duke undergraduate thesis • Rhododendron population and disease survey

• NC State graduate class project • Evaluating the effectiveness of signage

DESIGN/BUILD

CLOSE/RESTORE

dukeforestproject.wordpress.com