Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Field Day at Duke Forest: Stewardship in Action
An FSC US Gathering in North Carolina’s Piedmont
Duke Forest—7,000+ acres of actively managed, FSC-certified land—has been a living laboratory for research, education, and sustainable timber management since 1931. This month, FSC US hosted a field day at the property, bringing together professionals from across the forestry and sustainability space.
The event drew a cross-section of the sector: forest carbon specialists, certification managers, procurement leads, field foresters, landowner outreach professionals, and more. Attendees represented certificate holders, landowners, forest products companies, NGOs, and universities.
We started the day at Duke Forest’s recently renovated cabin—part of a land addition finalized in 2021—where we discussed the forest’s role in regional watershed health and landscape connectivity. Nestled between two of North Carolina’s major river basins, the property plays a key role in maintaining intact forest corridors amid ongoing development pressure.
The field tour offered firsthand insight into a range of management strategies. We visited a regenerating loblolly pine stand that had been clear-cut a few years ago, contrasted with a neighboring unthinned stand—prompting valuable dialogue on stand dynamics, market access, and species diversity.
A stop at a future stream restoration site highlighted how certification can drive broader ecological improvements. Duke Forest plans to remove a long-standing dam to restore natural flow and improve aquatic habitat—underscoring how FSC frameworks can support both compliance and long-term function.
Later, FSC’s Tom Kain led a discussion on certification mechanics and FSC’s growing work around ecosystem services. Participants explored how Southeast forests might access emerging markets tied to water, biodiversity, and carbon—while keeping operational feasibility in focus.
One of the most practical takeaways? Duke Forest is maintaining its Forest Management certification in part due to the added value seen in certified stumpage sales. For landowners, that kind of tangible benefit is a key motivator.
FSC US is grateful to the Duke Forest team for hosting and for showing what thoughtful, working forest stewardship looks like at scale. Thanks also to all who joined us in the woods—bringing expertise, curiosity, and commitment to advancing responsible forestry across the Southeast.
