LEXINGTON, Ky., (Jan. 22, 2021) — University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and Southern Regional Extension Forestry will offer the third and final round of Woodland Stewards, a four-part series of free, web-based woodland seminars on Tuesdays in February. All sessions will begin at 1 p.m. EST.

This year, the focus of the regional woodland webinar series is on encouraging landowners to take action in managing their woodlands. Landowners will learn about safety issues, how to narrow down their land management objectives, tools to help them and putting their knowledge to work.

“One of the exciting aspects of being a woodland owner is that you get to decide which management objectives you'd like to focus on in your woodland, from improving wildlife habitat and recreation in the forest to long-term investments in timber and non-timber forest products though forest stand improvements and sustainable resource management,” said Jacob Muller, UK assistant professor of hardwood silviculture and forest operations extension. “The Woodland Stewards Series is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about woodland management and jump start you towards an exciting and rewarding adventure in your own woodland.”

The series begins Feb. 2 with Woodland Management by Objectives: Taking Stock and Making Plans. Led by David Clabo of the University of Georgia and Leslie Boby of Southern Regional Extension Forestry, participants will learn how to assess their woodlands, including past land use, current conditions and potential. Register for this session online at http://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/woodland-management-by-objectives-taking-stock-making-plans.

Feb. 9, The Digital Toolbox for the Woodland Owners. This session will cover the many tools available to help in land management. Jeff Fellers and Derrick Phinney of Clemson University, Ellen Crocker of UK’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and Jennifer Gagnon of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service will lead the session. Registration: http://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/the-digital-toolbox-for-the-woodland-owner-theres-an-app-for-that.

Feb. 16, Safety Tips for Working in Your Woods. This session will focus on ways to stay safe while working in the woods, even with power tools. Gagnon and the University of Maryland’s Agnes Kedemenecz will lead the session. Registration: http://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/safety-tips-for-working-in-your-woods.

Feb. 23, Getting Started Managing Your Land. The final session in this series will led by UK’s Muller and extension forester Billy Thomas and North Carolina State University’s Colby Lambert, who will focus on putting knowledge and management plans into action to achieve landowners’ objectives. Registration: http://forestrywebinars.net/webinars/getting-started-managing-your-land

“We are excited to bring this woodland educational program to Kentucky’s woodland owners and those who care about Kentucky’s woodlands,” said Thomas. “Kentucky’s woodlands are some of the most diverse and potentially productive woodlands—if appropriate woodland management actions are implemented. I hope landowners will join us for this series to learn how they can make their woodlands healthier and more productive.”

Registration is required for each session. Organizers will send information to registrants to join the Zoom sessions.