| Extension efforts in the Department of
Natural
Resources focus on providing outreach and education to public and
professional
audiences involved in the management of natural resources. Major
areas
of emphasis include:
Extension educational efforts range from addressing specific taxa of particular interest to the management of entire landscapes. Although these efforts have primary audiences and applications within New York State, extension faculty are involved in efforts that extend throughout North America and other parts of the world. The underlying theme is that both scientific and societal approaches must be applied to improve management of natural resources, and these approaches can be best developed by enlisting the intellectual resources of Cornell University in providing continuing education and training of broad audiences beyond the traditional boundaries of the university. |
| AREAS OF EXTENSION
SPECIALIZATION
Reflecting the diversity of approaches needed to solve problems in resource management and conservation, areas of extension programming in the department are varied. |
|
ecology and management of
landscapes
- Those in the Department who focus on the management of landscapes
address
resource management opportunities and challenges confronting
managers
of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Forest resource
management
involves both expanding traditional economic opportunities for
non-industrial
private landowners, as well as identifying and developing new
agroforestry
options. Landscape management extension efforts also involve the
application
of biological controls for non-indigenous invasive plants,
implementing
new methods for wetland and aquatic resource protection, and facilitating community based natural resource management in urban and other “peopled” landscapes.
Blossey | Buck | Goff | Kraft | Schneider | Smallidge | Tidball |
|
fish and wildlife biology & management - Many organisms are of particular interest to humans because they are either too abundant -- therefore are a nuisance -- or are scarce, yet desirable. Such common animals as whitetail deer, beavers and Canada geese often interfere with commercial or other natural resource interests, and therefore become a nuisance. Other animals, such as native brook trout or forest amphibians, are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances, therefore require protection or habitat enhancement to sustain their populations. Extension efforts designed to manage particular species rely upon the application of management techniques based upon a thorough analysis and understanding of the dynamics of these populations, in addition to how these dynamics are influenced by the characteristics of the landscape within which these organisms live. |
|
environmental inquiry & youth education - The goal of Environmental Inquiry (EI) is to develop and evaluate models for engaging middle and high school students and educators in environmental sciences research. The research activities in which youth are involved include field and lab experiments, monitoring, and participatory action research. Through engaging students in authentic inquiry, EI helps teachers address the National Science Education Standards, which call for pre-college students to conduct authentic research in collaboration with community members and universities. Through EI, high school teachers work in partnership with Cornell scientists and educators to learn university research protocols and then adapt them for use by pre-college students. As a result, students gain the opportunity to engage in inquiry-based science that is tied to ongoing environmental research at Cornell and other research institutions. |