Clemson University Helene Recovery Project

Clemson University is part of a massive, collaborative effort to help the National Forests of Western North Carolina recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. The scientific expertise of our faculty, students, and staff makes us well positioned to help the USFS and other partners better understand the impacts of the storm and to advise ongoing restoration projects. 

Our team is leading a series of projects on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests to determine how Hurricane Helene has affected the plants and animals that live there. Extensive surveys in the field will be combined with geospatial and statistical analysis to measure the effects of the storm on species of conservation concern and their habitats. This scientifically rigorous data will inform recovery efforts for the species and ecosystems that need it most.