2009 Partnership Highlights
Service learning and local open space conservation
Staff members from the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center partnered with a forest biometric class at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the Wake Nature Partnership to help meet the planning information needs of Wake Country Parks, Recreation, and Open Space as part of a service learning project. The County recently purchased several tracts of land for an open space conservation initiative, and the Wake Nature Partnership—a local non-governmental organization composed of NCSU professors and land conservation organizations—was tasked to develop open space management plans for the land. Center staff provided instructional support and training to students who carried out a forest inventory needed to develop management prescriptions for the conservation project. The result was a meaningful educational experience for the students and a comprehensive assessment of forest stand and down dead wood characteristics for inclusion in the County’s management plan.
Contact: Michael Gavazzi, biological scientist, michael.gavazzi@usda.gov
