The first few months in 2009 have indeed been interesting and this edition of the magazine highlights some of the issues that emerged. The short legislative session witnessed a wide range of forestry-related bills and a summary of each is provided by the Kentucky Woodland Owners Association.
Certainly, the biggest issue affecting woodland owners in 2009 was the ice storm. The photo guide of ice damage should help you assess damage to your trees and provides links to additional information on ice storm damage publications. The ice storm certainly reminds us that we can not take the health of our woodlands for granted. As a woodland owner, understanding what woodland health is and how to assess the health of your woodlands is important. We hope that the article “Woodland Health” helps you better understand the underlying principals and indicators of forest and woodland health. It is also important for many woodland owners to easily walk through their woods and the article, “Woodland Trails: layout, building, and maintenance” will provide you basic information needed to develop and maintain your trails.
This issue will also feature the first Kentucky Tree Farm Committee Newsletter that contains updates about the American Tree Farm Program in Kentucky and we hope to provide this as a regular feature of the magazine. As always, this issue also contains our standard departments covering Kentucky Champion Trees to how to kill invasive plants. We hope you enjoy and find useful this issue of the magazine and please provide us your comments on the tear-out or visit the Kentucky Woodlands Magazine on-line at www.ukforestry.org.
Jeff Stringer,
University of Kentucky
Department of Forestry
Diana Olszowy,
Kentucky Division of Forestry
On behalf of the University of Kentucky’s Department of Forestry and the Kentucky Division of Forestry, the editors of Kentucky Woodlands Magazine commend you for the effort you put forth to manage our woodlands, and we hope that this magazine will help make your efforts more rewarding.
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry
Kentucky Division of Forestry
Associate Editor
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry
Renee' Williams
Assistant Editor
Advertising (print version) and Graphic Designer
Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky, Department of Forestry
Magazine cover photo by Susan Fox.
