Focus on Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resource ManagementPlan of Work

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Bell County CES

Title:
Focus on Forestry, Wildlife, and Natural Resource Management
MAP:
Natural resources and environmental education
Agents Involved:
Stacy White, Brandy Calvert
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Forestry Industry Education
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Sustainable Agriculture
Situation:

According to the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Bell County is situated atop an abundance of natural resources; with almost 200,000 acres of forest land, lakes, streams, a state park and a national park, Bell Countians need to understand the importance of our environment and its role in our economy and everyday life. People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production – these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Land owners, youth, and citizens practice proper environmental stewardship that will conserve natural resources and the productivity of the land while maximizing the economic and social benefits.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Land owners, youth and citizens recognize that forests and wildlife are renewable resources which can produce economic benefits and enjoyment for our community.

Initial Outcomes:

Community leaders, landowners, youth, and citizens will gain knowledge of the use of recommended management practices and the effect of the proper use of these practices on the environment. Community leaders, land owners, youth and citizens value proper environmental stewardship practices and become aware of the impact of the decisions they make on the environment.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Landowners and citizens gain knowledge and implement recommended environmental management practices, such as BMP's of timber harvesting and agricultural operations.

Indicator: Number of clients implementing these practices

Method: Program participation, Home/Farm Visits, surveys, and individual contacts

Timeline: 2-4 years.


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of native trees, fauna, and flora of the forests of Southeast Kentucky

Indicator: Participation in 4-H Projects, Judging Teams, Environmental Camps and School Enrichment

Method: Program participation, 4-H Projects, Individual Contacts

Timeline: 9-12 months.


Initial Outcome: Recommended management practices and proper environmental stewardship will be implemented by clientele.

Indicator: Clientele will reproduce practices they have learned through ag extension programs.

Method: Verbal, farm visits.

Timeline: 3-6 months

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Youth and 4-H Cloverbuds

Project or Activity: 4-H Chick Incubation project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Poultry Curriculum

Inputs: Curriculum, incubators, egg candlers, egg turners, teachers, UK provides eggs

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Club

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum, UK Publications

Inputs: 4-H Curriculum, UK Publications, 4-H Horse Certification program, specialists, agents, volunteers, community members, fundraisers

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Community Club Forestry project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Forestry Publications

Inputs: Agents. Natural Resources, Publications, volunteers, County Fair, State Fair

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-H Youth and adults

Project or Activity: 4-H Country Ham project

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Publications

Inputs: 4-H Publications, Agents, UK Meat Specialist, volunteers, funding from Bell County Farm Bureau, Ham House, donations and in-kind services from local meat processor

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Science Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Project Learning Tree curriculum

Inputs: PLT curriculum, agents

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-h youth

Project or Activity: Furbearer Program

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: Feltner facilities, schools, agents, community partners, KY Department of Fish and Wildlife, United Trappers of KY

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: General public, youth

Project or Activity: Apple Grafting

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: schools, agents, volunteers, Soil Conservation

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Fruit Production Workshop

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: specialists

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Backyard Beekeepers

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs

Inputs: bell county schools facility, volunteers

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: general public, youth, farmers

Project or Activity: Farm Field Day

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: schools, agents, community partners, volunteers

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: general public

Project or Activity: Nuisance Wildlife Management

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs

Inputs: agent, KY Fish and Wildlife

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: youth and general public

Project or Activity: Kentucky Wood Expo

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: schools, agents, KY Forest Industry Association, specialists

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: youth

Project or Activity: Win with Wood

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: schools, specialist, Division of Forestry, agents, Robinson Station

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: Southeast Kentucky Forestry Field Day

Content or Curriculum: UK Pubs

Inputs: schools, agents, community partners, Soil Conservation, specialist

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: Natural resource and Environmental Science Academy

Content or Curriculum: UK pubs

Inputs: schools, agents, specialist, community partners

Date: 2018-2020


Audience: Youth and general public

Program: Kentucky Reptiles

Content/Curriculum: UK publications, Kentucky Fish & Wildlife publications

Inputs: Agents, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife

Date: 2018-2020







Success Stories

Kentucky Furbearer Program

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education

The average person in today's society has little knowledge of the native wildlife living around them.  It is apparent when native Kentucky animal pelts are displayed in public settings that most don't know one species from another.  In an effort to address this situation the ANR agent developed the Kentucky Furbearer Program over 16 years ago.  In this program information is presented on history, biology, ecology, and wildlife management.  Historically, furbearers wer

Full Story

Kentucky Tree Farm Program

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Woodland Education

Approximately half of Kentucky’s 25 million acres is forested.  This forest land, largely privately owned, supports a timber industry that contributes $8.4 billion in direct economic contributions, $13.29 billion in total economic contributions, 26,068 jobs in the forest sector and an estimated 59,451 jobs overall.  The greatest need of this huge economic resource is better forest management.  The American Tree Farm System is a program for woodland owners who are commit

Full Story
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