KAEE is seeking an enthusiastic and creative educator to fulfill the position of Program Director - someone with a passion for our mission and a desire to help them grow as an organization. This is a full-time, remote position serving Kentucky’s community of environmental educators. If you like to be challenged, learn a lot, have a significant impact, and work with an amazing team, you're encouraged to apply! KWOF selected Jason Ronald Brown as its 2023 scholarship award recipient. Join us at the Annual Meeting in March as we recognize Jason for his outstanding work.
Annually, the Kentucky Woodlands Owners Foundation Scholarship provides an award to an outstanding student enrolled in the University of Kentucky’s professional forestry degree program. The award is granted based on leadership potential, connection with the forestry community, and insight into the forestry profession. KWOA is asking everyone in the Woodland Community to respond to the statewide survey recently launched by the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and encourage expanded woodland management programming. The survey is a simple ranking of issues and toward the end there is a place to describe other issues in your community that (in your opinion) need practical education and/or assistance. This would be the place to make a request; suggested wording:
“Please expand programming to educate landowners about woodland management practices and the public about the need for this type of management across the state. The future ability of forest resources in Kentucky to provide timber/wood products and ecosystem services to protect environmental quality and provide economic benefits is dependent upon woodland management.” The survey is open to all Kentucky citizens ages 18 and up. Every voice matters. We hope you’ll take the ten-minute survey and encourage others to do the same. Recent data from the Department of Agriculture provides an update on foreign investment in U.S. agricultural lands. These reports provide data findings from across the US. It is worth noting that the majority of foreign owned land (including forests) is held by nations friendly to the US and that Kentucky has legal restrictions on foreign ownership.
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) has announced the Queen Maggie Bailey Addition to Warbler Ridge Preserve.The 89-acre tract expands the preserve to 3,324 acres. The addition, on the north slope of Pine Mountain, in Letcher County, is a link in the planned route of the Great Eastern Trail, a contemporary to the Appalachian Trail.
Maggie Davidson Bailey was a celebrated Harlan County resident. At a young age Maggie left from her family’s homestead in Letcher County for Harlan, where she began using creative initiative to support her family. Maggie was one of eight children and at 17 began bootlegging to look after her siblings. She was known for helping those in need and became a beloved community member who was given the title of “Queen.” Learn more about these newly protected wildlands and why Queen Maggie Bailey was so beloved: The Queen Maggie Bailey Addition This invasive pest is now in the state. The state entomologist is advising that if you should see this destructive bug, take a picture of it first then squash it. Then report it to reportapest@uky.edu so that they can keep track of it. USDA also has a great information page and downloadable info flyers. In Louisville, a team with the Olmstead Parks Conservancy is working to minimize habitat for these invasive insects by removing their preferred host plant, Tree of Heaven, from the parks. To learn more about their work, visit their Facebook page.
H.R. 5582 - the bipartisan White Oak Resilience Act (WORA) - was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on September 21, 2023. This bill was cosponsored by Congressional White Oak Caucus and Congressional Bourbon Caucus leaders Andy Barr (R-KY), Ami Bera (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY). WORA showcases the power of public-private partnership, and the integral relationship between the resilience of our natural resources and economic growth. This bill proposes much-needed measures to rejuvenate America's white oak-dominated forests, support the hard-working folks who rely on them and promote biodiversity.
See press release at www.whiteoakinitiative.org/white-oak-initiative-raises-a-glass-to-introduction-of-white-oak-resilience-act Other media coverage at: barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7E413504-8529-4039-8EDA-08E811373046 and spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/politics/2023/09/21/barr-mcgarvey-white-oak-resilience-act Follow these links to find out how Australia, Caroline Kennedy and Muhammed Ali connect to a huge new paper mill in KY:
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/money/business/2023/09/15/andy-beshear-caroline-kennedy-among-those-at-kentucky-pratt-paper-opening/70858551007/ and www.14news.com/2023/09/14/pratt-paper-cuts-ribbon-new-facility-henderson/ The Division of Forestry is accepting orders for tree seedlings beginning September 1 online through its new Forestry Seedling Sales. Those ordering less than 10,000 total trees and are using a credit card are to use the division's online store to place their order. Seedlings ordered from the store will be shipped by UPS. Those wishing to order seedlings and pay by check or want to pick up their seedlings at one of our two nurseries are asked to use the Tree Order Form and order through their local branch office. Division branch offices can answer questions or questions can be emailed to KYSeedlingSales@ky.gov.
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