Duke Restore, a university-wide initiative based at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, is dedicated to advancing ecosystem restoration as a science and practice that can enhance resilience in both natural habitats and the communities they support.
The initiative’s mission is to establish Duke as a global leader in ecosystem restoration, making conservation a practical recovery strategy for environments from terrestrial forests to coastal reefs. By combining research with on-the-ground restoration, Duke Restore seeks to build adaptive systems that protect biodiversity and provide sustainable, nature-based solutions to environmental challenges
Over the past year, Duke Restore has actively built a model for ecosystem restoration that integrates local habitats with broader community benefits. With support from state and federal partners, including the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the initiative has implemented projects across North Carolina’s diverse ecosystems. These efforts span upland streams to coastal barriers, rewilding riverine wetlands and oyster reefs to enhance natural defenses against erosion and storm impacts.
On campus, the Forest Restoration Team has worked with the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Laboratory to address invasive species and expand reforestation efforts. Their projects focus on promoting long-term ecological health and student engagement, with more than 40 students now involved in habitat connectivity mapping in the region, working in partnership with groups like The Nature Conservancy and the Durham Open Space program.
Through collaboration, research, and community engagement, the Forest team along with their other ecosystems focused teams — Living Shorelines, Seagrass Farming, Wetlands, Coral, Rewilding, and Eco-Cultural teams — Duke Restore is positioning itself as a model for restoration science, aspiring to make Duke a benchmark for research-driven, community-centered conservation practices. For further information on Duke Restore’s projects and goals, visit the Nicholas School magazine story.