Land
Universities are constantly growing to meet the needs of increasing enrollment and a changing society. The challenge is to do so sustainably.
To ensure the university adheres to its mission, campus-wide efforts are made to balance space use with NC State’s educational mission and sustainability. This balance includes land use — agriculture, industrial, open spaces — conservation and protection of natural areas, restoration and repairing damaged natural areas, stormwater runoff , managing the grounds, and landscape and space utilization. Our efforts include:
Master Planning
Through its master planning process, NC State examines the institution’s impact on the surrounding community and attempts to minimize any detrimental effects. Several of the guiding principles in the university’s Physical Master Plan illustrate NC State’s commitment to sustainability, a pedestrian-oriented campus, open space and responsible development.
Landscape Design
More and more NC State is considering sustainability it campus landscapes. Native, drought-tolerant plants are integrated where possible, as is permeable pavement and rain gardens — many of which have been designed and installed by NC State horticulture and landscape design students.
Stormwater Management
Like many municipalities, NC State incorporates best management practices to address stormwater quality and quantity on campus. The goal of this effort is to reduce pollutants — such as heavy metals, sediment, nutrients, oil and toxic substances — from entering local waterways.
Research
NC State features cutting-edge research in land use and care. The Department of Forestry and Natural Resources has many faculty research, centers and cooperatives. Other land use related areas of research include the Department of Applied Ecology, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Entomology, Horticulture Science, Plant Pathology, Soil Science and Landscape Architecture.
2,100 acres
are part of NC State’s Raleigh campus.
Certified Sustainable
Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State is a certified Audubon International Signature Golf Sanctuary — one of only two university-owned golf courses to earn this sustainability certification.
Growing Career Skills
From a garden built on steam pipes to numerous Design/Build courses that built many rain gardens and low-impact landscape areas on campus, students have applied knowledge from the classroom to campus land.
Creek Restored
Rocky Branch and North Creek are two urban waterways running through NC State’s campus that were restored to improve water quality and create an improved aquatic and wildlife habitat.
Resources
The university and its Cooperative Extension offer the following resources related to land and land use:
- Christmas Tree research and extension
- Cooperative Extension’s Forestry division
- Integrated Pest Management
- Greenways for Wildlife
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources Extension
- Tree Improvement Program
- Center for Advanced Forestry Systems
- Southern Forest Resource Assessment Consortium (SOFAC)
- Natural Learning Initiative
- Plant and Disease Clinic
- Environmental and Agricultural Testing Service
The following opportunities are available on NC State’s campus:
- Pollinators On Campus
- Student-created virtual tours of interesting campus plants
- Grounds Management
- Office of the University Architect
- Visit the JC Raulston Arboretum, a nationally-acclaimed garden
- Stormwater on campus
- Soil and Water Management Group
- Water Quality Group
LAND NEWS | More
In N.C., It Should Probably Be ‘No Mow March’
An NC State turfgrass expert explains the importance of mowing for weed control and promoting healthy grass.
ITRE Study Highlights Economic Benefits of Outdoor Trail Network
The Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) partnered with the Carolina Thread Trail to perform an economic impact assessment, which showed that large outdoor trail networks of this nature can offer a worthwhile return on investment.
Saving Bees, Butterflies – and Maybe Even Flies – Yard by Yard
The shape, color and even smell of the flowers that you plant determine the types of pollinators that come to your garden, an NC State expert says.