University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service will offer a forestry webinar series on five evenings in November and December. The idea behind the web-based series is to provide woodland owners with a convenient way to gain beneficial information they can use on their own properties.

The series is designed primarily for woodland owners, but anyone interested in woodland, timber and wildlife topics is welcome to participate. Those who have attended the Kentucky Woodland Owners Short Course or other UK Department of Forestry educational programs will find new and valuable information in the webinar series.

UK forestry extension will broadcast the series to participating county extension offices, with each session beginning at 7 p.m. ET and lasting approximately one hour. Local agents will host the gatherings. The technology allows participants at each site to ask questions of the experts. Individuals can also participate in the webinars from most Internet-connected devices, although the organizers encourage participants to attend a group presentation if their county extension office hosts one.

“The webinars are an excellent opportunity for people to receive a significant amount of information in a relatively short time, without having to drive great distances to attend,” said Billy Thomas, UK extension forester and one of the coordinators of the series.

With the exception of the Dec. 6 session, Kentucky Master Loggers can also receive one continuing education credit for each of the webinars they attend at a hosting county extension office.

Series topics include:

·       Nov. 1—Kentucky Forest Health Update. Ellen Crocker, of the UK Forest Health and Research Center and UK Cooperative Extension, and Abe Nielsen, Kentucky Division of Forestry, will summarize this year’s forest health issues in Kentucky and the surrounding areas. They will focus on major problems, such as emerald ash borer damage, localized issues and potential future threats. Participating extension offices include Carroll, Edmonson, Floyd, Grant, Harlan, Lee, Letcher, Menifee, Ohio and Warren counties.

·       Nov. 10—Implementing a Sustainable Timber Harvest. Water, soils, special sites, rare species and aesthetic beauty need to be protected and sustained as much as trees. UK forester Christopher Reeves will talk about these topics as well as how to protect special sites such as cemeteries and rock shelters. Participating extension offices include Carroll, Carter, Clay, Floyd, Grant, Hart, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Ohio and Rowan counties. Owen County will present a recording of this webinar on Nov. 17.

·       Nov. 22—Marking Your Woodlands Property Boundary. Laurie Thomas, of UK’s Department of Forestry, and Scott Shouse, Central Kentucky Forest Management Inc., will address the importance of marking and maintaining your woodland boundary lines, determining property boundaries and properly marking the boundary with the correct materials. Participating extension offices include Boyd, Carroll, Clay, Edmonson, Floyd, Grant, Harlan, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Lyon, Menifee, Ohio, Rowan, Warren and Wolfe counties.

·       Dec. 6—Preventing Wildlife Damage on Your Property: Tree Plantings, Gardens and Ornamentals. Wildlife, while providing hours of enjoyment, can also cause problems. UK Department of Forestry’s Matt Springer will discuss common wildlife issues, including how to identify the wildlife causing the problem and preventative measures. Participating extension offices include Boyd, Carroll, Clay, Edmonson, Floyd, Grant, Harlan, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Lyon, Menifee, Ohio, Rowan, Warren and Wolfe counties.

·       Dec. 15—Caring for Your Woodlands. UK forester Billy Thomas will discuss ways to make woodlands productive and healthy, including developing a plan, initiating common woodland management practices and identifying resources to assist with expenses. Participating extension offices include Carroll, Edmonson, Floyd, Grant, Greenup, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Lyon, Menifee, Ohio and Warren counties.

Interested participants may register for webinars through participating county extension offices. More information is available online at https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/webinars_upcoming or by contacting a local county extension office or Billy Thomas at 859-257-9153 or billy.thomas@uky.edu.