Cornell Plantations Natural Areas: Jewels in the Crown of a Great University

19 September 2006 Educational Program
Japes Lodge, 7:30 p.m.

This illustrated talk is intended to give an overview of the Cornell Plantations Natural Areas. Cornell Plantations manages nearly 4000 acres of natural areas at nearly 50 different sites, mostly in Tompkins County. Cornell's natural areas range in size from 3 to 400+ acres and are intended to showcase representative ecological communities of the Cayuga Lake Basin, including some rare community types. Many of Cornell's natural areas are within easy walking distance of the Cornell Campus. Some of those natural areas, like Beebe Lake and the Fall Creek and Sixmile Creek Gorges, are right on Campus. All natural areas are maintained for education and research and provide exceptional opportunities for relaxation, nature study, and photography. Many of our natural areas have trails and footpaths, although camping is not permitted on any natural area, and branches of the Finger Lakes Trail cross some natural areas. Some of our natural areas also contain regionally and globally rare plants, many of which will be shown in this talk.

References:

Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Program web site: http://www.plantations.cornell.edu/collections/natareas/Natural_Areas.htm

Ostman, N.L. and F.R. Wesley. 1999. A Field Guide to Cornell’s Natural Areas on and near Campus. Cornell Plantations, Ithaca, NY. 40 pp. (includes maps and directions to natural areas; available at Mann Library)

Ostman, N.L. and F.R. Wesley. 1997. A Field Guide to Cornell’s Off-Campus Natural Areas. Cornell Plantations, Ithaca, NY. 39 pp. (includes maps and directions to natural areas; available at Mann Library)