Unauthorized Activities Threaten Duke Forest

The pandemic brought an unprecedented increase in both visitors and unauthorized rec activities at Duke Forest.

Over the last several months, Duke Forest staff have noted a dramatic increase in unauthorized recreational activities and associated negative impacts. Some of what the staff is seeing is not new, but the sheer volume and spatial breadth has never been greater. They issued a recreation impact statement last month on what they found and asked recreational visitors to join in upholding stewardship of the Duke Forest Teaching and Research Lab­oratory.

“Please help us ensure that the Duke Forest remains a teaching, research, and natural asset—that can also continue to offer nature-based recreational opportunities—simply by following the rules that are in place and paying attention to signage,” the statement said.

Hiking, running and reconnecting with nature are permitted activities, along with biking on gravel paths only. Bring a mask and wear it while passing others in the forest. Dogs must be on a leash.

Three sections (Blackwood, Durham, Kor­stian) will be closed weekdays Oct. 5–Dec. 11 for the 13th annual deer reduction management program. Recreation activities are al­lowed only weekends and Thanksgiving weekend during deer thinning dates. (Story elsewhere in this issue.)

Duke Forest reported 15 examples of un­authorized activities from stacking rocks in New Hope Creek which disrupts ecosystems to use of foot-only dirt trails by bikers which create dangerous conditions, erosion and disruption to Natural Heritage areas. Other problems cited in the report were building MTB jumps, bridges and trails, using ATVs in the Forest, creating new, unauthorized access points, hosting unsanctioned races, vandalizing signs, picnic shelters, tampering with re­search projects.

J.B.