Overview
Katie Warnell is a senior policy associate for the Ecosystem Services Program. She is a graduate of Duke University’s Master of Environment Management program with a concentration in ecosystem science and conservation and was awarded a geospatial analysis certificate. She has served as an intern at the Triangle Land Conservancy and as a research tech with the Duke University Superfund Research Center. She has conducted research on South Africa’s bats with the Organization for Tropical Studies and was involved in a DukeEngage project on fish farming in Ecuador.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Policy Research Associate
Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability,
University Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
Impacts of Forest Thinning and Clearcutting on Plant and Animal Species Richness in North American Forests: A Meta-Analysis
Report · April 13, 2026 Understanding how different intensities of timber harvesting affect species richness for plants and animals in North American forests will enable natural resource managers to better control the impacts of harvesting on flora and fauna communities. Previous ... Open Access Link to item CiteAn Updated Meta-Analysis of Thinning and Clearcutting Impacts on Carbon Storage in North American Forests
Report · March 25, 2026 Working forests serve an important role in providing timber products. At the same time, these forests are expected to contribute to mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration (removing carbon from the atmosphere) and by replacing high-emission ... Open Access Link to item CiteMapping the Ecological Toll of Hurricane Helene and Recovery Efforts in Western North Carolina
Report · July 15, 2025 When Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina in September 2024, the damage to homes, roads, and communities was devastating. Recovery will take years and is expected to cost more than $59 billion. But people weren’t the only ones affected—so were ra ... Open Access Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Atlantic Conservation Coalition CPRG Implementation Proposal
ResearchResearch Associate · Awarded by NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources · 2024 - 2029NC CPRG implementation grant - coastal program design/project selection and research coordination
ResearchResearch Associate · Awarded by North Carolina Coastal Federation · 2025 - 2029Department of the Interior Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap Phase 2
Public ServiceResearch Associate · Awarded by North Carolina State University · 2023 - 2027View All Grants