Education & Research

UNCA Student Education and Research

"My colleagues and I in the Biology Department have conducted outdoor labs and ecological research in the Urban Forest for [many] years. This research has been supported by significant extramural funding (hundreds of thousands of dollars) from NSF, the NC Biotechnology Center, the McCullough Fellowship and elsewhere. The students trained in these activities measure easily in the hundreds if not thousands.

As a botanist I know that we cannot compete with larger and more well-funded universities regarding our lab facilities, but I can assert with confidence that the quality of the natural areas on our campus and their utility for education and research well exceed those available on most other campuses." David Clarke [See UNC Asheville Urban Forest valuable to students, wildlife, community; preservation is key]

We ask why would UNCA choose to destroy something that sets it apart and likely improves the education and recruitment of students?

Community Study of Plants, Animals, and Fungi

UNCA's Urban Forest in the Five Points Neighborhood has been an amazing place for families to take their children to learn about nature and for community members to study botany, mycology, and learn about wildlife. It's a rare opportunity to visit a forest without driving and gives opportunity for people with disabilities, the elderly, or those with limited disposable income or transportation to spend time in nature.