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. 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.
Areas of Extension Specialization
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.
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.
Human Dimensions of Natural Resources: The Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Outreach program is focused on incorporation of human dimensions insights and integrating social and biological science into natural resource management and decision-making, improving public engagement effectiveness for informed decision-making, improving general program development and evaluation, and improving researcher understanding of current issues, problems, and research needs.
Key themes of human dimensions of natural resources outreach work include applied research, building capacity, improving communication, and improving practice.
Youth/4-H in Natural Resources: The goal of Youth/4-H in Natural Resources is to develop and evaluate models for engaging middle and high school students and educators in environmental sciences research, such as field and lab experiments, monitoring, and participatory action research. By engaging students in authentic inquiry, these youth programs help teachers address the National Science Education Standards, which call for pre-college students to conduct authentic research in collaboration with community members and universities.
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.