Hofmann Forest Letter from Dean Mary Watzin

Posted on January 23, 2013 by

The following letter was emailed to College of Natural Resources alumni on January 22, 2013.

Dean Mary Watzin

A Message From Dean Mary Watzin
January 22, 2013

I write to let you know that the Natural Resources Foundation Board of Directors has unanimously recommended the sale of the Hofmann Forest in its entirety, assuming price and other considerations can be met, for the specific support of the mission of the College of Natural Resources.

I also want to reassure you that any sale of the Hofmann will be consistent with the values of the College, which include retaining the name in recognition of the legacy of the Forest to the College. The goal is to sell the property as a working forest. The College hopes to retain access to the property by faculty and students for teaching and research. My commitment to forestry education, research and outreach as core elements of the programming of the CNR is strong.

In deciding about the future of the Hofmann, the Foundation (and the College) has considered which options would provide the greatest good for the largest number of CNR students, our faculty and staff, and our professions, over the long term. The College is currently experiencing significant growth and has strong ambitions. Keeping current programs strong and leveraging new opportunities for the College will only be possible with additional cash flow. A more diversified portfolio of investment could provide a higher and more consistent level of support to the College.

The Hofmann Forest is a tremendous asset to the College of Natural Resources, and I understand some of you have fond memories of your time there. As you will recall, the Hofmann was acquired shortly after the forestry program at NCSU was founded and it was named in honor of the program’s founding dean. Initially, the Forest was used for teaching purposes, with students spending a summer in eastern North Carolina at the Hofmann to learn forestry. In the late 1950’s, summer camp was moved permanently to Hill Forest near Durham. Last year, the College invested about $1.5 million in upgrading the facilities at Hill Forest. Today, a relatively small number of CNR faculty and students use the Hofmann Forest for teaching and research. The low rate of use is in part because of the distance of the Hofmann Forest from the campus.

Currently, the primary role of the Hofmann Forest is as an investment, with earnings supporting scholarships and the academic and research programs of the College. It is managed by the Natural Resources Foundation as a commercial forest. Although the Foundation staff has done an outstanding job of managing the Hofmann Forest over the last decade, we are at a competitive disadvantage compared to large commercial operations, which have greater resources to manage in the face of a changing business climate.

The current rate of return from the Hofmann is less than what might be achieved from a diversified investment portfolio. A diversified portfolio would also lessen the risks associated with fires, hurricanes, droughts, and invasive species.

The mission of CNR is teaching, research and outreach. While we cherish our history with the Hofmann Forest, the reputation of the College is not based on this land ownership; it is instead the direct result of the stature and quality of the faculty and the teaching, research, and outreach programs we deliver.

I ask for your patience and your trust as we move forward with this process, which will unfold over the coming months.

With best wishes,

Mary C. Watzin
Dean, College of Natural Resources
North Carolina State University

Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology December Newsletter Released

Posted on December 6, 2012 by

Don’t miss the December issue of the NCSU Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology program newsletter.
In this Issue –

Nature Research Center in Raleigh highlights FWCB research
Wildlife surveys in South Mountain State Park
wMammal project documents wildlife with citizen science
Dr. Paul Krausman delivers 2012 Barkalow Distinquished Conservationist Lecture
and more exciting FWCB news!

Read the complete issue (pdf)

NC sees bumper crop of Christmas trees this year

Posted on December 3, 2012 by

Christmas tree research and extension programs at North Carolina State University cover all aspects of production and marketing and are collaboratively conducted across several departments in both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Natural Resources (CNR).

Have you selected the perfect Christmas tree yet? Did you know that when you purchase a tree you are making a difference to North Carolina’s and the nation’s economy? According to the News & Observer…

“Farm income from Christmas trees totaled $85 million last year, though analysts say prices have been trending down for several years due to competition from fakes. Real-tree dealers face heavy competition from artificial trees, which coupled with the down economy has put pressure on lower prices, said John Frampton, forestry professor at N.C. State University. But the industry expects the same slow uptick that much of the economy is seeing.”

Read the complete article in The News & Observer

Christmas tree economy: More than just ornaments

Posted on December 3, 2012 by

William Clark trims the trunk of a fraser fir tree. Photo by NCSu Student Media

William Clark trims the trunk of a fraser fir tree Nov. 26. “I’ve been working at the market for 20 years,” Clark said, “we come down here from Ashe county for three weeks a year and we try to sell 1,500 trees.” Photo by NCSU Student media

Christmas trees may be a whimsical addition to holiday decorations, but the Christmas tree industry is a serious business. Lining the highways of western North Carolina are more than 25,000 acres of Christmas tree farms, full of rows of firs that are ready to be harvested, shipped off and sold Thanksgiving weekend and after for the holidays.

“The North Carolina Department of Agriculture reports that last year there were over $85 million in Christmas tree receipts,” said Jennifer Greene, the executive director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association.

North Carolina is second in the nation for Christmas tree production, behind only Oregon, mainly due to the state’s monopoly on what is considered by many to be the perfect species of Christmas tree — the Fraser fir, indigenous to the state. About 5 million are harvested each year.”

And no one knows this better than NC State University’s Christmas Tree Research and Extension program!

Read the complete article in technicianonline.com.

Welcoming Dean Watzin to NCSU

Posted on November 15, 2012 by

Dean Mary Watzin, new dean of the NCSU College of Natural Resources

What once was home to deer antlers and moose heads is now scattered with boxes and a “Happy Boss Day” card propped up on a desk-side table. Mary Watzin, the new dean of the College of Natural Resources, started to unpack and settle in on Oct. 15. Once a man-cave, Watzin’s new office is now filled with welcome wishes and women’s laughter.

After 22 years at the University of Vermont, three of which she served as the dean of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Watzin said she is excited to start a new chapter in her life.

“As the recruiter started to talk to me about what was happening at N.C. State,” Watzin said, “it looked like a university on the move … something I might want to be a part of.”

Looking forward to the things she hopes to accomplish, Watzin said she is ready to jump into the world of the College of Natural Resources.

“There are a lot of things I hope to accomplish,” Watzin said. “First, I’d like to start by getting to know my colleagues. This college has some really great faculty and staff all of which are poised to do really great things. We just need to spend a little time figuring out where we want to go and we’ll be off.”

Watzin said she is eager to meet the students and ready to get the word out on campus about the environment.

“One of the things that’s really rewarding is that we get to hear all the great ideas that come from students and how you look at the world,” Watzin said.

“Solving environmental problems and the wise sustainable use of our natural resources is absolutely critical to what your lives are going to be like as you go out into the world. It’s finding that balance whether you’re an engineer, English major, or a natural resource major. Everybody needs to understand how the world works and how people fit into the equation.”

Excerpted from the Technician Online.
Read the complete article by Kaitlin Montgomery