tree canopy

Natural Resources and the Environment

Our vision

The section of Natural Resources and the Environment within the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment is a world leader in scholarship addressing social and ecological dimensions of natural resources and the environment to improve environmental sustainability, promote the well-being of communities, and ensure access to sustainable energy and environmental resources.

What we work on

We create knowledge and facilitate learning to improve society’s stewardship of the environment and promote a conservation ethos for a sustainable planet.

People standing in a river spearing fish
Aquatic and Fisheries Ecology and Management
Three researchers with mountains in the background
Climate and Energy
A multi-plot garden with crops and shed in the foreground, with a blue sky and the tops of buildings of New York City off in the distance.
Conservation Social Sciences and Policy
Three researchers look into the distance through binoculars.
International Conservation
Three white terns fly in a group against a bright blue sky.
Terrestrial and Wildlife Ecology and Management

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

We are a diverse community of researchers, educators, students and staff that seek science-based solutions to environmental problems and sustainable natural resource management. In our research, teaching and outreach, we recognize that the acknowledgement and respect of all stakeholders’ perspectives is essential for achieving just and sustainable solutions to today’s environmental problems.

Read more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

News

Oneida Lake

News

The Fisheries and Limnology of Oneida Lake, 1957-2025
Oneida Lake remains the cornerstone of New York’s inland fisheries, acting as a vital $21 million economic driver for the region. The sustained productivity of this mesotrophic system is managed through one of the most rigorous long-term...
  • Biological Field Station
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
  • Natural Resources and the Environment Section
illustration of a glass earth on a forest floor.

News

Cornell Atkinson announces $1.24M in joint EDF grants

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and Environmental Defense Fund will distribute $1.24 million to 12 projects co-led by Cornell and EDF scientists for research addressing several sustainability topics.

  • Cornell Atkinson
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
  • Natural Resources and the Environment Section
Leah Crenshaw, pictured here, will continue research that examines how surrounding landscapes influence bird ecology in shade‑grown coffee farms.

News

Cornell Atkinson research grants support future sustainability leaders

Cornell Atkinson has announced 40 research grants to support undergraduate and graduate student researchers whose work will support sustainability, biodiversity and agriculture.

  • Cornell Atkinson
  • Lab of Ornithology
  • Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment
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