Extension can assist with teaching people about our natural resources, the stresses that are impacting them including climate change and the many ways that mankind is impacting the planet. There have been large decreases in bird, animal and plant populations in the recent decades. The EF4 tornado that passed through Lyon County was perhaps a result of the increase in extreme weather as a result of climate change. Educating people on how our natural resources and the impact we are having on them will be important to slowing the losses.

1. A field day for Master Naturalists was organized by the Lyon County ANR Agent in cooperation with staff at the Land Between the Lakes Woodlands Nature Station. The event was advertised and registrations were taken by University of Kentucky Forest Health Specialists. Twenty-nine people from across the state participated in this educational event focused on nocturnal wildlife.
2. The Lyon County ANR agent and Land Between the Lakes staff assisted with organizing and conducting the State Master Naturalist Conference, held in April at Lake Barkley State Park and in Land Between the Lakes. Thirty people participated in this two-day event.
3. A Western Kentucky Master Naturalist Class is underway with 28 participants from across the state. Again, this is a collaboration between Lyon County Extension, UK Forestry Extension and the Land Between the Lakes Woodlands Nature Station Staff. It is a series of three weekends of training and the first weekend was held in May.
4. Native trees were given away to tornado victims in October. Approximately 150 trees donated by Highlands Nursery were planted to replace trees lost in the storm.
5. This spring, Arbor Day and the Kentucky Division of Forestry put together a native tree dispersal, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, that was held at the Lyon County Extension Office. Master Gardeners assisted the group which included State Farm Insurance employees. More than 550 trees were given away to Lyon County and contiguous county residents. Many attending were people that had lost their home or had significant damage due to the tornado.
6. Two citizen science weather classes have been offered in conjunction with NOAA and the Paducah National Weather Service. These were CoCoRaHS and Skywarn Spotter classes.
7. The ANR agent is assisting the Western Kentucky University Climate Center staff in setting up a set of temporary stations across the lake for an air turbulence study.