When Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina in late September 2024, it was breeding season for hellbenders--and their stream habitats were affected by flooding and other damages. In a LinkedIn article, Jin Bai described how Duke University and Appalachian State University researchers worked together to help the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission prioritize sites for monitoring. 

An international research team, including Nicholas Institute expert Lydia Olander, has developed a roadmap for an emerging field of technology called ecotech, which draws inspiration from nature to create scalable solutions to urgent environmental, social and economic challenges. The team described this field, providing a comprehensive framework for its adoption and expansion, in the journal Science Advances.

While the benefits of nature-based solutions (NBS) are well-documented, adoption remains relatively slow—partly because we lack consistent data on how interventions perform under different contexts. 

At DC Climate Week (April 20-26, 2026), Duke experts and partners will convene leaders across sectors to exchange ideas about resilience solutions for U.S. communities and emerging economies. See a full list of Duke events to be hosted at Duke in DC, the university’s home in the nation’s capital.

The upcoming Nature Record National Assessment synthesizes knowledge about U.S. lands, waters and wildlife and the variety of benefits they provide. Nicholas Institute expert Lydia Olander is a coauthor of this first-of-its-kind accounting of what is happening to nature across the country, why it matters to our daily lives and options for decisions ahead.

Many of China's borrowers have been forced to roll over their loans, reducing the debt’s ultimate value. In that context, accepting an immediate payment for environmental protections rather than uncertain payments in the future—while also accruing geopolitical goodwill at a moment when the United States is retreating from climate and environmental cooperation—may be the more strategic choice, Duke expert Elizabeth Losos told Inside Climate News.

Discover highlights from FY 2025 in this digital report. Covering July 2024 to June 2025, the report features actionable research, engagement with decision‑makers on emerging issues and hands‑on learning experiences that equip Duke students to lead.

Nicholas Institute experts Lydia Olander and Sara Mason were among leaders from 20 states, academics, nonprofit experts and private sector partners who gathered in August for the annual State Resilience Planning Group, convened by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The group shared best practices and lessons learned to increase disaster resilience, with a focus on how to leverage nature and innovative infrastructure solutions.

In a new episode of The Coastal Society podcast, host William Ferris sat down with fellow Duke University expert Tibor Vegh to discuss how research and planning can drive real-world resilience for coastal communities—from nature-based solutions to coastal adaptation policy.

N.C. Gov. Josh Stein appointed Duke University expert Lydia Olander as an at-large member of the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees. Olander directs the Nature Activation Hub—hosted by the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability—and is an adjunct professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment.

A webinar hosted by The Pew Charitable Trusts featured a panel of experts (including Sara Mason of the Nicholas Institute) on how pay-for-success initiatives, public-private collaboration, and environmental markets can deliver numerous benefits. Mason noted the Nature Finance Case Study Library as a source of examples.

Hurricane Helene didn't just tear apart homes and infrastructure—it also affected rare and sensitive species and habitats. Duke research—in partnership with North Carolina's Natural Heritage Program—is already helping state agencies prioritize field visits and guide recovery efforts, writes the Nicholas Institute's Katie Warnell in a LinkedIn article.

Duke University researchers have launched a public dashboard tracking the progress and impact of nature-based solutions efforts along the East Coast. The new resource will provide updates on projects led by the Atlantic Conservation Coalition, which includes state governments in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, in addition to The Nature Conservancy. Eighteen additional organizations are also partners in the effort.

Duke experts are exploring ways to enhance community resilience to extreme weather events. Lydia Olander and Francis Bouchard joined engineering professor Mark Borsuk in leading a 2024-2025 Bass Connections team exploring community-based catastrophe insurance.

Nicholas Institute experts Sara Mason, Lydia Olander, and Katie Warnell shared insights from their collaboration and development of the Department of the Interior Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap in a Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center webinar.