hands hold plants in the foreground as a student looks on

Environment

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) environment programs engage individuals and communities in conserving and sustaining the quality, diversity, and accessibility of New York's natural resources and environmental assets.

CCE has appointed Kathy Bunting-Howarth critical issue lead for extension programming in environmental systems

Featured Programs

To learn about the programs that are offered in your area, visit or contact a local CCE office.

Soil sample pulled from field
Climate Smart Farming

A team of Climate Smart Farming educators and researchers help NYS farmers reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural production and energy use, increase farm resiliency to extreme weather and climate variability, and sustainably increase productivity and income.

Educator with group of volunteers in NYC park with city skyline in background
Cornell Climate Stewards

Cutting edge and research-based, the Climate Steward program teaches volunteers strategies for increasing their community’s resilience to climate change, and reducing their community’s impacts on the climate.

Child holding fish on fishing poll
Cornell Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Youth Education Program

This program engages educators and youth in authentic inquiry and experiential learning as they explore the natural environment.

Smart Energy Choices

With support from NYSERDA, CCE community energy advisors in the Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, Long Island, and the Southern Tier provide energy audits, educational opportunities, and access to NYSERDA funding. Advisors work with residents to reduce energy costs, increase efficiency and find options for adopting renewable energy. 

CCE specialists also advise farmers on energy best practices for NY state agriculture. 

Hudson Valley resident consulting with a CCE energy adviser
Hudson Valley resident consulting with a CCE energy adviser. Photo by R.J. Anderson, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Group of people with hard hats in front of forest
Master Forest Owner

A network of over 140 experienced master forest owner volunteers provides private woodland owners of New York State with the information and encouragement necessary to manage their forest holdings wisely.

Karen Snover-Clift, professor of plant science (SIPS) and Jennifer Kotary of the NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation assess Oak Wilt in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Master Naturalist

This science-based training program is designed to teach adults about New York’s natural resources, empowering them to educate others and participate in on-the-ground conservation and monitoring projects.

A orange-gloved hand holding an oyster with an ocean in the background
NY Sea Grant

NYSG is a cooperative program of the State University of New York (SUNY) and Cornell University which promotes the informed stewardship of coastal resources through integrated research, education, and extension services.

Research Spotlight

Solar Energy

New York state has set ambitious goals to wean its economy off fossil fuels by 2050 while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 85%. To help reach those goals, Cornell researchers are partnering with CCE to study ways the state’s mix of sun and farmland will factor into plans.

Research Spotlight

The Digital Divide

The National Science Foundation has awarded $1.5 million to Cornell engineers and researchers to help them bridge New York’s digital divide by designing the nation’s first statewide Internet of Things public infrastructure.

Research Spotlight

Nature Rx

Associate Professor of Plant Science, Donald A. Rakow shares the health benefits of getting outdoors, He says, "a wealth of evidence in recent years shows that being active in nature, just sitting outside in nature, or even looking at a picture of nature have benefits to your overall wellbeing." 

Dryden solar farm
Two men drilling technology into the side of a house
Girl in garden examining a plant

Partner organizations and programs

Programs throughout Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences partner with CCE educators on environment, natural resources, sustainable energy and climate change work.

 

 

Stories

Katherine Sinacore

Spotlight

Meet our faculty: Katherine Sinacore
Academic focus: Forest restoration ecology, natural resource management, environmental economics Research summary: My research examines how biophysical and socioeconomic factors shape forest restoration and management outcomes. I combine field...
  • Natural Resources and the Environment Section
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
Olaf Jensen

Spotlight

Meet our faculty: Olaf Jensen ’98
Academic focus: Sustainable fisheries; ecology of marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems Research summary: Research in my lab spans a range from field studies of recreational fisheries and climate change in the U.S. and Mongolia to impacts...
  • Natural Resources and the Environment Section
  • Biological Field Station
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
Michael Blum

Spotlight

Meet our faculty: Michael Blum
Academic focus: Coastal sustainability, disaster recovery, watershed management Research summary: I work on human-environment interactions in riverine and coastal marsh ecosystems, as well as disaster-prone coastal cities. In riverine ecosystems...
  • Natural Resources and the Environment Section
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment