The Woodland Owners Short Course (WOSC) is targeted at Kentucky’s private woodland owners and is designed to assist private woodland owners in the management of their woodlands. The WOSC is the largest woodland owner educational program offered in Kentucky and is supported by more than 10 forestry and natural resource agencies and organizations. Warren County had 88 woodland owners & 14 forestry professionals attend representing 9362 woodland acres.

Short-term impacts: A pre-test and post-test was administered to determine short-term impacts (awareness and knowledge increase). The following topics and corresponding percentages indicate the percentages of participants planning to use the knowledge from each subject matter covered during the program.

Woodland Management Practices                     86.44%

Tree Identification                                               85.29%

ID and Control of Invasive Plants                       80.00%

Emerald Ash Borer and Invasive Plants             64.71%

Wildlife Management Practices                          59.32%

Timber Sales and Trespass Issues                     57.63%

Financial and Technical Assistance Programs    54.24%

100% of participants indicated that attending the program better prepared them to manage their woodland.

Intermediate & Long Term impacts: post-program testing indicated improvement of wildlife habitat and woodland acres through the implementation of practices discussed in the program.

Registrants indicated they would use the information to improve more than 93% of their owned acres or an average of 99 woodland acres improved per participant.

The long-term impacts of this program will result in increased revenue earned from timber sales for those using a professional forester, improved wildlife habitat, increased woodland productivity, and improved woodland health. This program also provided for an increase in participants ability to add value to their properties through increased knowledge of woodland and wildlife management practices.