Success Story2020 Woodlands Stewards Regional Webinar Series



2020 Woodlands Stewards Regional Webinar Series

Author: William Thomas

Planning Unit: Forestry

Major Program: Woodland Education

Outcome: Initial Outcome

In 2018, the UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team worked with Forestry and Natural Resource professionals from across the southeast US to plan and develop a 3-year regional educational program for woodland owners. The goal of the program is to educate and empower woodland owners to understand and implement forest management practices to make their woodlands healthy and productive. In its second year, the 2020 educational series consisted of five programs on: “Woodland Management: What is Right for You and Your Woodland?”, “Understanding the Financial Aspects of Woodland Management”, “More than Timber: Income Opportunities from Non-timber Forest Products”, “Launching your Woodland Legacy: Intact, In Forest and In Family Ownership”, and “Forestry and Wildlife Assistance in Kentucky”.  More than 20 county extension agents/staff hosted the series at county extension offices across the state; over 300 Kentucky woodland owners participated in one or more of the webinars. Kentucky program attendees owned more than 24,000 woodland acres. 

Across the region, more than 689 woodland owners representing 47,000 woodland acres attended the 2020 series. Overall, 94% of participants indicated they now know who to contact if they have questions about their woodland as a result of this webinar series and over 90% of found the information easy to understand. When asked if they would recommend this program to other woodland owners the attendees reported 7.9 on a scale of 1 (would not recommend) to 10 (highly recommend), indicating a high value being placed on the webinar series. This regional Extension program has connected Kentucky woodland owners with experts from around the region and strengthened relationships with their local county Extension offices and staff while encouraging sustainable woodland management. The final year of this 3-year regional educational program will be conducted in 2021.






Stories by William Thomas


UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Wins the 2018 National Family Forests Comprehensive Education Award

about 5 years ago by William Thomas

The overarching goal of the UK Forestry and Natural Resources Extension program is to provide curren... Read More


2019 Getting to Know Your Woodlands Webinar Series: A Primer for Beginners

about 5 years ago by William Thomas

The University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team worked with F... Read More


Stories by Forestry


Drones assisting with forest management plans

Drones assisting with forest management plans

about 5 years ago by Richard Cristan

Dr. Richard Cristan with Scott Hankla on the Hankla property in Boyle County.Bush honeysuckle (green... Read More


LSR Grant for Upland Oaks

about 5 years ago by Darren Morris

Research has shown that there is inadequate reproduction and recruitment of white oak and other upla... Read More