According to the most recent Forest Inventory and Analysis performed by the US Forest Service and the Kentucky Division of Forestry in 2016, of Edmonson County's more than 118,000 forested acres, approximately 61% are privately owned. Many landowners would like to be better managers of their forested acres, but are not sure where to begin. With this in mind, the Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent for Edmonson County signed up to be a host for the Getting to Know Your Woodland Webinar Series: A Primer for Beginners presented in partnership by UK Forestry Extension and numerous Forestry Extension Units from other nearby universities and the Southern Region Extension Forestry team. 

Webinar dates, titles, and instructors for each of the 2019 Getting to Know Your Woodlands Webinar Series: A Primer for Beginners

• February 21, 2019. Getting to Know Your Woodlands. Dr. Don Bragg (USDA Forest Service), Dr. Bill Hubbard (Maryland Extension), Walt A. McPhail (Distinguished Tree Farmer), Derrick Phinney (Clemson Cooperative Extension)

• February 28, 2019. Managing Your Woodlands. Dr. David (University of Georgia), Dr. Kyle Cunningham (Arkansas Extension), Dr. Wayne Clatterbuck (University of Tennessee)

• March 7, 2019. Identifying and Managing Woodland Threats. Dr. David Coyle (Clemson University), Dr. Lauren Pile (USDA Forest Service), Dr. Hank Stelzer (Missouri Extension)

• March 14, 2019. Wildlife and Woodlands. Dr. Craig harper (Tennessee Extension), Dr. Bronson Strickland (Mississippi State Extension), Dr. Mark McConnell (Mississippi State Extension)

• March 21, 2019. Forestry and Wildlife Assistance in Kentucky. Billy Thomas (UK Forestry and Natural Resource Extension), Dr. Ellen Crocker (UK Forestry and Natural Resource Extension), Pam Snyder (Kentucky Division of Forestry), Clay Smitson (Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources), Deena Wheby (Kentucky Natural Resources Conservation Service)                                                                                        
  While the number of attendees varied at each session, the final session was well attended. The information presented at each session gave the audience a better understanding of how to better manage their woodlands for their own specific goals, wither than be for timber, wildlife, or other ideals. The final session helped forest owners be aware of the resources available to them in the state and locally.
  Written evaluations from each session showed that participants average knowledge of each subject after attending the program increased by over 20%, 100% indicated that they now know who to contact with questions about woodlands, 35% indicated they plan to contact a natural resource professional about their property within the next 3 months, 100% said that the information presented was easy to understand, and, on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highly recommend) attendees indicated that they would recommend the webinar to other woodland owners with an average rating of 7.85.

  Long-term impacts: increased revenue, improved woodland productivity, improved wildlife habitat, and improved woodland health

  • The long-term impacts from this program will result in participants’ enhanced ability to address a variety of woodland related issues, resulting in increased revenue, increased woodland productivity, and improved woodland health. These benefits occur to the individual, their county, and our Commonwealth.