Land Management
"Duke is a university in the forest."
- 4th Principle of Duke's Master Plan
As the steward of more than 9,000 acres in the heart of the Triangle, a rapidly growing metropolitan area, Duke takes great care to preserve the natural environment while practicing infill development centered around green spaces. This commitment can be seen in a number of Duke's land use initiatives:
Southern Center for Sustainable Forests - Duke collaborated with NC State University and the NC Division of Forest Resources to achieve sustainable forestry certifications for 55,000 acres of forest in North Carolina. The land, including the Duke Forest, was certified under both of the leading certification systems to reveal lessons about the costs, feasibility and value of sustainable forestry certification.
Wetland Restoration - As part of a larger stormwater management strategy, Duke has re-constructed an 8-acre wetland just south of campus to catch and filter runoff from campus.
Conserving Green Space on Campus - In the 2000 Master Plan, "conservation zones" were designated for protection on campus. Assets to be conserved include forested areas, fragile ecological areas, riparian corridors, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and central open spaces such as the historic quadrangles.
Natural Areas Registry - Duke University has signed an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to place 1,220 acres of Duke Forest in the Registry of Natural Heritage Areas, setting it aside from development and invasive research.