Success StoryForestry is Increasingly Important to the Future of Eastern Kentucky



Forestry is Increasingly Important to the Future of Eastern Kentucky

Author: Shad Baker

Planning Unit: Letcher County CES

Major Program: Forestry and Natural Resource Professional Education

Plan of Work: Natural Resource and Environmental Education

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Eastern Kentucky has long been a reservoir of natural resources. And while the focus for the last century has been on coal, oil and natural gas extraction, the future may depend more heavily on the region's renewable resources. The area is lush and heavily forested and with this comes opportunities for locals to focus on proper management of timber and non-timber forest products. The Letcher County Extension Service has worked in tandem with the University of Kentucky Forestry Department in offering regular trainings on timber management for woodland owners and master loggers seeking continuing education classes. Topics covered included Winter Tree Identification, Getting to Know Your Woodlands, Managing Your Woodlands, Identifying and Managing Woodland Threats, Wildlife & Woodlands, and Forestry and Wildlife Assistance for Kentuckians. The classes offered opportunities for participants to ask questions locally or two solicit responses from forestry specialists at the University of Kentucky and other Universities across the southeastern United States. Clients reported learning about issues from other states that had application locally and getting foreknowledge on future opportunities and challenges that will impact their livelihoods. Landowners also reported learning about forestry-related enterprises which they plan to launch within the year.






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