Kentucky's Forest Branching
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Kentucky’s Forests 2012 Conservation Writing and Jim Claypool Art Contests Sponsored by the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation and Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts 2012 What is a Forest? Forests are more than “just a bunch of trees”. They are complex communities that support a rich variety of plants and animals – over 750 wildlife species and over 1,800 different kinds of plants. They protect fragile soils from erosion, purify water and even, by reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, improve air quality. Forests cover 47 percent of Kentucky’s land area – some 12 million acres. They provide employment for more than 35,000 Kentuckians, and wood industries add an estimated $8.5 billion to Kentucky’s economy each year. The forest is made up of a series of levels of life, arranged from the tops of the trees to the ground on which they grow. Each level constitutes a habitat where different species of plants and animals live. Altogether, the parts of the forest and the plants and the animals living in them make up the complex ecosystem we call, simply, a “forest.” The top level, called the canopy, is formed by the crowns – the leafy tops – of the tallest trees. This is where photosynthesis – using sunlight to manufacture food the tree can use – is carried on most actively. It’s also the home of thousands of insects. These in turn attract thousands of insect-eating birds. Squirrels are also active in the canopy because seeds and nuts are plentiful there. The next level is the understory. It’s made up of small trees pushing upward toward the light. It has its own population of animals, birds and insects that find the feeding conditions to their liking. The next layer, considered part of the understory, is called the shrub/herb layer and is composed of many kinds of shrubs, low-lying wildflowers, grasses, ferns, mosses and vines, which offer still different nesting and feeding opportunities. This is the home of many of our songbirds that rely on the berries and seeds of shrubs for food and living here are also mice, insects, snakes and toads. At the bottom is the forest floor where accumulations of autumn leaves, twigs, branches and even whole trees lie until they’re turned into humus – a rich, absorbent, brown or black layer of soil – by weather and the activity of the fungi, millipedes, ants and other insects. 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 2 Kentucky’s Forestry Centennial This year officially marks the centennial anniversary of the Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF). Originally known as the Board of Forestry as established in 1912 by the Kentucky General Assembly, KDF is the oldest state forestry agency in the South. From assisting landowners to suppressing wildfires, KDF has been the backbone of forest conservation in Kentucky for the last 100 years. As we navigate the future, however, KDF foresters and rangers will need to prioritize projects and focus on critical areas in our state. Given that Kentucky has over 12 million acres of forestland, this will be a daunting task for generations to come. So, let’s rejoice in the accomplishments of our past, but let us not forget to lend a hand in conserving our forest resources today. After all, it’s our legacy to the future! 1912 Creation of the Board of Forestry 1914 First Tree Nurseries By the early 1900’s, Kentucky’s forests had been over-harvested, cleared for Two state-owned tree nurseries were agriculture and charred by wildfires. In response to the depleting resource, established in 1914 to raise tree seedlings the Kentucky General and create state forest reserves. The first Assembly empowered and largest nursery was located at the a new Board of 1913 First Fire Protection Association fairgrounds in Louisville and a smaller Agriculture, Forestry Under the guidance of the Board of Forestry, the and Irrigation to first Fire Protection Association was organized nursery was created in Frankfort. These act as a forestry in 1913 in Harlan County. Landowners paid nurseries were later replaced by the John commission for the state in 1906. By 1912, a yearly one-cent-per-acre forest protection P. Rhody Nursery and the Morgan County the Assembly also passed a law to adopt the tax and by 1915, the area of protection Nursery. KDF’s nurseries today are capable recommendations of a U.S. Forest Service encompassed 200,000 acres and extended to of growing three to four million seedlings Report to create a dedicated Board of Forestry. neighboring counties. annually. 1919 First State Forest 1933 Civilian Conservation Corp Comes to Kentucky In 1919, the Board of Forestry acquired its first state-owned The Great Depression of the 1930s, as devastating as it was to the forest. The property – located in Harlan County on the south nation, had a positive impact on forestry. One of President Franklin side of Pine Mountain – was deeded to the Commonwealth D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs was the Civilian Conservation by the Kentenia-Cartron Corporation and subsequently Corps (CCC). From 1933 to 1942, CCC camps were established in named Kentenia State Forest. The initial tracts of land every state, including Kentucky. Among other duties, the young men at Kentenia totaled 3,624 acres. Today, KDF owns and in these camps worked to reclaim forests by erecting fire towers, manages nine state forest properties across the state fighting forest fires and planting trees. CCC markers, like the one encompassing over 43,000 acres. located near Cumberland Falls, can be found throughout Kentucky. 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 3 1944 Smokey Bear’s Birthday 1948 General Assembly Enacts Laws Smokey Bear, a mascot of the United States Forest for Forest Management Service, was created in 1944 as an advertising campaign The Kentucky General Assembly enacted of the Ad Council and the National Association of State laws in 1948 that provided for guidance Foresters to educate the public about the dangers of in forest management. These laws serve forest fires. The living symbol of Smokey Bear was an as the foundation for the Kentucky Forest American black bear cub that survived the Capitan Gap Stewardship program that provides fire in New Mexico in the spring of 1950. Smokey Bear technical assistance to public and has been the basis for KDF’s fire prevention education private landowners for the purpose of program in schools throughout the state since the 1950s. sustaining forest resources. 1964 Arbor Day in Kentucky Designated as the First Friday in April 1970 Fire Towers Give Way to Aerial Detection Although the Kentucky General Assembly established Arbor Day in The 70s brought changes to the way the division located forest fires. Fire towers that were traditionally our state in 1896 as a day set aside for recognizing the importance of used were retired from service and the division began trees, the actual day changed several times until the 1960’s. At KDF’s using aerial detection to spot fires. This method has request, in 1964, Kentucky Legislature designated the first Friday of proven very effective in locating and suppressing April as Arbor Day in Kentucky. wildfires. 1980 1990 Forest Management 1998 Kentucky Forest 2012 KDF Today and Tomorrow Kentucky Makes Strides Conservation Act KDF celebrates a rich history in forestry. Establishes In 1990, the division’s forest Two years after the creation Historically, the division has enforced an Urban & management program—a of the Kentucky Forest forest fire protection laws, provided Community program that provides Conservation Act (KFCA) in fire suppression on private land, Forestry technical assistance to 1998, the division became conducted fire prevention activities, Program landowners— was upgraded responsible for inspecting maintained a tree seedling program and In the 80s, to encompass the federal commercial timber harvesting provided technical assistance to private urban Forest Stewardship operations. In accordance landowners. In more recent years, sprawl and a shift in the state’s Program. In 1993, with KFCA regulations, the division has taken on community population from rural to urban the National a master logger must and urban forestry programs, timber areas created the need to practice Woodland Owners be on site and in charge harvesting inspections, forest health urban forestry. As a result, the Association of all commercial timber assessments and environmental division established a program to honored the harvests and they education. Our state is fortunate to provide technical assistance and division’s Forest must ensure that best have a forest resource that remains funding to address the importance Stewardship management practices productive and diverse, and with proper of urban trees for their social, Program as the are being used to reduce management, our forests will continue environmental and economic finest in the and prevent nonpoint to provide economic and environmental benefits. United States. source water pollution. benefits for hundreds of years to come. 2012 Kentucky’s Forests 4 Promoting Forestry Conservation districts are located in all of Kentucky’s 120 counties. They Proper Fertilization assist landowners in developing conservation plans and provide technical This practice concerns minimizing impacts to water quality while applying assistance for best management practices that protect the soil and water specific chemicals to the soil to favor increased growth of vegetation. This resources. These practices are designed to reduce soil erosion and impact practice induces desirable vegetation to achieve maximum growth practices the amount of silt or contaminants that enter ponds, lakes and streams. for site conditions, while managing the fertilizer in such a way as to protect Common forestry best management practices are identified below. the quality of nearby water bodies. Proper fertilization is achieved by: • Using only the amount of fertilizer necessary.