CNR Spring Photo Contest Underway

College Photo Contest Flyer - 2014As winter melts away and we begin the spring in North Carolina, the College of Natural Resources is sponsoring a photo contest to try to capture the research, teaching, extension, and service that we do. Attached is a flyer describing the photo contest and how the photos will be used.

If you are an avid photographer, we hope that you will enjoy this photo assignment.  If you are looking for a new activity to take you outside, pick-up your camera and head out to capture an image of the natural resources around us.

All faculty, staff and students in CNR are welcome to take part in this contest. Please feel free to share this with others in the CNR community.

Due date for the photos is April 18, 2014.  Check out the flyer for more details.

We look forward to seeing your photographs!

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration 2014

NC Arbor Day Celebration

The public is invited to participate in North Carolina’s 2014 Arbor Day Celebration to be held at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, March 22, 2014, from 10am to 2pm. The NC State University Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources will host the fun event again this year, featuring many exhibits, a tree seedling give-away, and hands-on activities for whole family.

Arbor Day is celebrated in state observances across the country to demonstrate our appreciation of trees.  According to the NC Forest Service website, the NC state legislature ratified a bill in 1967, stating in part, “Whereas, it is desirable that the planting of seedlings and flowering shrubs be encouraged to promote the beautification and conservation of the vast and varied resources of North Carolina, and whereas the designation of a particular day each year as Arbor Day would encourage and draw attention to a concerted effort by North Carolinians to beautify and conserve the state’s resources by planting young trees and shrubs.”

NC Arbor Day Kids AreaIn honor of that spirit, several organizations will be on hand at North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration to share information and materials about how trees enhance the quality of life for us all. In cooperation with the Society of American Foresters’ Triangle Chapter and NC State Student Chapter, 1500 tree seedlings will be distributed to the public. The winner of the state’s Arbor Day Photo Contest will be announced and presented with their award at 1:30pm. Smokey Bear is sure to make a visit and a children’s activity area is also in the works.

North Carolina’s Arbor Day Celebration is free and open to the public. For more information, visit go.ncsu.edu/arborday2014.

Visit the 2013 NC Arbor Day Celebration Photo Gallery >>

For more information, contact:

Renee Strnad
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
North Carolina State University
Phone: 919-515-5518
renee_strnad@ncsu.edu
www.cnr.ncsu.edu/fer
go.ncsu.edu/arborday2014

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New Graduates Honored

NC State College of Natural Resources Commencement Ceremony December 18, 2013Following the university-wide commencement ceremony this morning, Dean Mary Watzin  will award diplomas to 218 summer and winter graduates of the  NC State University College of Natural Resources at the Jane S. McKimmon Center in Raleigh.  The college will award 63 graduate degrees and 155 undergraduate degrees.

Professor of Practice Mickey Fearn will deliver the commencement address and one student from each of our 3 departments will address their fellow graduates. The student speakers are – Jensen Reece Sales (Forest Biomaterials), Gretchen Louise Stokes (Forestry & Environmental Resources), and David Sean Gamble (Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management).

A graduation gift from the NC State Natural Resources Foundation will be presented to each graduate by foundation president, Art Raymond.  Departmental receptions will follow the diploma ceremony.

Congratulations to the graduates and new alumni of the College of Natural Resources and to their families.  View the diploma ceremony program for a complete list of graduates>>

 

“Wild” 4-Hers Compete in 2013 NC WHEP Contest

2013 State 4-H WHEP Contest

On Saturday, April 24, forty-four 4-Hers descended upon Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center in Johnston County for the 2013 State WHEP Contest.  Nine counties put forth two Senior Division teams and seven Junior Division teams.  In addition, 12 individuals and nine Cloverbuds participated in the contest.  The contest consisted of wildlife identification and general wildlife knowledge, wildlife foods, aerial photo interpretation, and on-site wildlife habitat recommendations.

Alamance County WHEP Team

Alamance County WHEP Team
Front Row L-R: Nicholas Weidemann (JR Division), Emma Bailey.
Back Row L-R: Zachary Weidemann, Courtney Eckmann, Nathan Troxler.

The top scoring Senior Division team from Alamance County will have the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the National 4-H WHEP Invitational this July in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Members of the Alamance County team are Emma Bailey, Courtney Eckmann, Nathan Troxler, and Zachary Weidemann.

Christy Bailey, Kim Eckmann, and Barbara Weidemann are coaches for the team.  “We came hoping to win this year and already mapped out a route to the national contest. Of course we are going!” Courtney Eckmann stated. Henderson County placed first in the Junior Division, with Alleghany and Wilson Counties placing second and third.  Tatum Epperson, from the Henderson County Junior Team, received the state contest high score. Teams traveled from across the state to participate in the state contest at Howell Woods.  The counties represented included Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Catawba, Henderson, Jones, Lee, Wayne and Wilson.

About WHEP
Extension Forestry at NC State UniversityWHEP (Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program) is a 4-H program teaching youth about wildlife and the management of their habitats.  WHEP is sponsored nationally by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and International Paper.

Extension Forestry, within NC State University’s College of Natural Resources, supports and promotes the WHEP program in North Carolina.

For Further Information Contact:  
Renee Strnad
Extension Forestry
North Carolina State University
919-515-5518  renee_strnad@ncsu.edu

Seymour Delivers 2013 Borlaug Lecture at NC State

On April 16, 2013, Frances Seymour delivered the 2013 Norman E. Borlaug Lecture at the Hunt Library at NC State University. Frances SeymourThe lecture, cosponsored by the College of Natural Resources and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was part of a week of festivities  celebrating Earth Day.  The following is an excerpt from an article in the student newspaper.

The Giving Trees by Liz Moomey, staff writer

FORESTS MATTER TO FOOD SECURITY, GROWING ECONOMIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Frances Seymour, former director of Center for International Forestry Research, spoke about the external influences on the conditions of forests and their roles in food security snd climate change at Hunt Library Auditorium Tuesday afternoon.

Forests have a significant impact on food security, although there is not a lot of talk about it, Seymour said. “The role of forests and climate regulations is even that much more important,” Seymour said. “You would think that given all of these contributions of forests to food security and to agriculture, more generally, and local landscapes, conserving forests would be an important part of food security policy, but they are not.”

Seymour said misconceptions about forests’ roles in food security often contribute to lack of policy dealing with forestry and regulating demolition of forests. “It serves the interest of some actors to have you believe that forestry protection and food security are incompatible,” Seymour said. “There are two convenient untruths. One is that you have to sacrifice forests to feed the world, and the other poor people are the main cause of deforestation.

Read the complete article in The TechnicianOnline

Learn more about the Annual Borlaug Lecture Series @ NC State University