A group of 汤不热视频 faculty and staff have begun a Nature Preserve Urban Forest Restoration Project on the north end of campus that will provide numerous academic and recreation opportunities for the campus community.
The team leading up the project includes, Dr. Murat Atasoy, assistant professor of environmental studies; Dr. Darrin Hunt, assistant professor of biology; Dr. Christie Sampson, assistant professor of biology; and Darrell Shaw, director of 汤不热视频 Outdoors.
The initial efforts in the nature preserve that sits north of the Wilson Athletic Complex has included the removal of understory shrub cover and some trees as well as mulching the soil to increase forest health and help natural regeneration of forest management.听
Recently, the team invited District Forrester Jeff Frizzell from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Forestry Division to talk to several classes about the importance of urban forest restoration (photo above).
Atasoy said the project will help enhance students鈥� knowledge of improving urban forest health and species diversity.
鈥淭his urban forest will provide students an opportunity to practice the forest inventory data management,鈥� Atasoy said. 鈥淥ur students will be also helping with eradication of invasive woody shrubs, removal of wood debris and building a sustainable trail which will be made of the tree logs harvested from the nature preserve. More importantly, they will learn to identify the Arkansas tree species and their management.鈥�
Hunt said a pond located in the nature preserve will also play an academic role.
鈥淭he pond system provides an opportunity for students to investigate linkages between terrestrial and aquatic systems,鈥� Hunt said. 鈥淭he indirect effects of human activity, such as sedimentation and nutrient loading associated with urbanization and agriculture, may impact wildlife habitat, water chemistry, and productivity in the local watershed. Additionally, recent forest management activities on the preserve offer a unique opportunity to observe how urban forestry impacts aquatic pond systems.鈥�
Sampson said the preserve will also help her and her students as they take part in a national phenology project () monitoring redbuds, an iconic native North American tree species.
鈥淲e are hoping to conduct paired studies on plant and wildlife management between the reserve and other University and public properties, as well as create an inventory as part of the coursework in the biology department,鈥� Sampson said.
Shaw鈥檚 goals with the U of O Nature Preserve include more of a recreational slant.
鈥淢y dream for the nature preserve is to re-establish the trails that were there and build a very beginner-friendly mountain bike/hiking trail around the perimeter,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome other ideas include adding a bridge, made from cedar, over to the pond; dig out the pond so that it doesn鈥檛 overflow as often, possibly making it a little bigger so that students could kayak and canoe; adding fish annually so that students can fish; adding a hammock and camping area with a fire ring; and, if there is room, possibly adding two holes for the disc golf course, which will increase the flows around the campus better.鈥�
The forest restoration project is expected to be completed by spring 2026.
Topics: Academics