Warnell Senior Project
Welcome To
Senior Project
Senior project is a capstone class for students at the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The goal of the class is to incorporate skills learned during a student’s time at Warnell into a real-life land-management project.
Groups of graduating Warnell students are paired with vetted projects proposed by members of the community. These projects are selected for their overall goals, as they align with students’ skills and the expectations for Warnell graduates. We created this page to provide more information on Senior Project, the process for stakeholders, and helpful links for submitting and partnering on projects.
Services May Include
Recent Projects
Greenway Trail assessment
The goal of this project was to improve user enjoyment and safety while decreasing user conflict. Students assessed the presence, frequency and impact of user conflict, as well as the awareness of trail etiquette and “leave no trace” principles through surveys of trail users.
Wildlife Education
The client asked for assistance with maximizing the education component in the Reptile House while using the space to promote learning opportunities. Students developed a plan, based on a visitor survey
and site visits to other zoos, aquariums, and nature centers, to restore and update the space.
Pond and Wildlife Management Plan
The main objective of this project was to assess the pond’s health by establishing a baseline assessment of the water chemistry, fish population, and nutrient availability. The client also wanted to improve wildlife habitat and encourage visits by waterfowl. The project team identified nutrients that were lacking and made recommendations for vegetation changes around the pond.
Forest Management Plan
For this project, students were asked to create a forest management plan for a heavily wooded satellite location of a nonprofit botanical garden. Student team members recommended active management practices to increase forest health, environmental education courses to make better use of the on-site resources and a timber harvest.
Wildlife and Timber Management Plan
This project developed a wildlife management plan to increase hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer and wild turkeys, as well as improve the habitat for these species. The student team members also made recommendations to manage timber to offset costs. This project involved the use of drones, timber cruises and habitat assessments.
City Park Assessment
Students working on this project had two goals. First, they were asked to assess the state of invasive plant species to inform removal management. Second, park managers wanted to better understand visitor preferences. Students incorporated a hotspot map and intercept surveys to make management recommendations.
The Process
Landowners/stakeholders use this form to submit a project. Faculty who teach Senior Project will follow up with additional questions and map out next steps.
If a project submission is accepted, students may choose it as their Senior Project. This is where objectives and deliverables are defined.
Projects are chosen in November & April. Students begin work the following semester.
Throughout the semester, students will access the site to take gather information to inform their project.
At the close of the semester, students will present their findings and results, as well as submit a final written report on the project.
Student Benefits
- Problem-solving skills
- Data collection and evaluation
- Modeling/Simulation
- Assessment/Management
- Surveys and user experiences
- Experience outside a classroom
- Working as part of a group
Landowner Benefits
- Property imaging
- Advanced maps
- Analysis via latest technology
- Water analysis
- Population analysis
- Biological inventory
- Providing educational experiences
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
Have a project in mind? Submit your idea.
