North Carolina’s newest educational state forest is now open to the public. Located in Stanley on an important conservation easement, Mountain Island Educational State Forest (ESF) is a working forest, emphasizing forestry best management practices (BMP) related to water quality. Nearby Mountain Island Lake, from which the forest takes its name, supplies water to one out of every 12 residents in North Carolina.
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Beginning Nov. 10, the N.C. Forest Service is offering a 20% discount on tree seedling orders placed by active, honorably discharged or retired military personnel throughout November. The discount applies to the first $500 for all new orders, up to a $100 discount.“Many veterans and current military members serving to protect our freedoms are also woodland owners who work hard to help keep North Carolina forests healthy and thriving,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “This discount is one way we can show our appreciation to those who have given so much.”
Clemmons Educational State Forest (ESF) located in Clayton has transitioned to its winter hours. With this transition, Clemmons ESF will be open weekly and winter hours will remain in effect through the end of February. The forest is closed on weekends. Clemmons ESF hours of operation are:Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.The forest is closed Saturday through Monday.The forest will also be closed during designated state holidays which include Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
As North Carolina’s fall wildfire season approaches, the N.C. Forest Service is urging the public to protect homes and neighborhoods by taking action to reduce wildfire risk and using recommended best practices to prevent wildfires.
N.C. Forest Service (NCFS) Richmond County Ranger Brandon Van Buren has been named recipient of the 2025 State Forester’s Prescribed Burning Award. Van Buren began his NCFS career as an assistant county ranger in Anson County in 2014. He’s held the role of Richmond County ranger since October 2021.
The N.C. Forest Service will begin accepting orders Tuesday, July 1, for its annual tree seedling sale. With an average annual production of 10 million seedlings, the NCFS Nursery Program produces enough native and genetically improved tree seedlings to plant roughly 18,700 acres of land.
The N.C. Forest Service has confirmed that laurel wilt, a devastating disease of redbay and other plants in the laurel family, has been detected on private property in Beaufort and Greene counties, bringing the number of counties where the tree-killing disease has been detected to 21.Sassafras, redbay, swampbay, pondberry, pondspice and spicebush are in the laurel family and can be affected by this disease. Redbay trees infected with laurel wilt retain their leaves even after the tree has died allowing for easier detection during the winter months.
The Reasonover Creek Trail at DuPont State Recreational Forest (DSRF) is undergoing improvements that will result in temporary trail closures. Improvements to the 3.5-mile-long trail are part of the DSRF Master Recreation Plan that will accommodate a high level of recreational use while improving environmental sustainability, increasing longevity, reducing erosion and protecting the water quality of nearby streams.
DuPont State Recreational Forest (DSRF) has reopened the popular foot traffic only Triple Falls Trail following temporary repairs.“Hurricane Helene created a historic level of flooding across western North Carolina including the Little River watershed that contains well known waterfalls such as Triple Falls and High Falls,” said Jason Guidry, forest supervisor for DSRF. “The flooding extended into the lower section of Triple Falls Trail, causing severe and deep erosion.”
The primary objective for the N.C. Forest Service Incident Management Team is public and firefighter safety. Acreage: 1,331 acres | Containment: 83%