Forests

 
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More than 50% of Kentucky's land is covered in forests

 
 

Kentucky's Forestry Industry

Forests play a vital role in Kentucky’s economy and in the lives of the citizens of our state. Forests cover nearly one-half of the Commonwealth, providing many economic and recreational benefits. The largest economic benefit comes from the harvesting of timber and processing of the wood resource.

Kentucky’s forest and wood industries in 2020 contributed $13.97 billion in economic impact. These industries employed over 27,000 individuals. There are more than 2,600 logging companies located across Kentucky. Wood is processed at 671 facilities in 112 counties. Those facilities include sawmills, pulp and paper mills, and a wide variety of secondary producers such as cabinet, barrel, and flooring manufacturers.

The 2020 sawlog production estimate of 779 million board feet secures Kentucky’s place as one of the leading producers of hardwood forest products in the U.S. Railroad ties are another important timber product in Kentucky. More on Forest Sector Economic Impact

A Wealth in the Forest

Forests cover nearly half of the land in Kentucky and provide many economical and environmental benefits. Trees are renewable, natural resources that are harvested for timber and wood resources. Every single county in the Commonwealth contributes to Kentucky’s $14 billion forest and wood products industry that supports the jobs of more than 60,000 people.

The most popular trees harvested for saw logs are black walnut, white oak, red oak, ash and yellow poplar. The
white oak, left, dominates Kentucky wood exports in the form of oak barrels for aging alcohol.

Forest Management

The Kentucky Division of Forestry works to protect, conserve and enhance the forest resources of the Commonwealth. As a means of meeting their mission, the division offers a variety of programs and services ranging from landowner assistance and master logger training to forest health protection and wildland fire management.

Wood Products

Paper production and finishing brings more money to Kentucky than any other wood-dependent industry. Harvesting lower quality trees for paper helps keep forests healthy.

Logging, solid wood manufacturing such as lumber and cabinets, and wood residues (mulch and sawdust) are also
important economic engines for Kentucky.

Forests for Healthy Ecosystems and Fun!

Environmental and cultural benefits of forests include ecosystem services such as cleaner air and water, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat, not to mention providing Kentuckians and thousands of visitors with recreational opportunities and aesthetic beauty.

 
 

Related Articles & Web Sites

Featured
Fostering Healthier Forests: Wolfe County Farmers Put Conservation First in Local Firewood Business
Fostering Healthier Forests: Wolfe County Farmers Put Conservation First in Local Firewood Business

When you hear the words “firewood operation,” you may envision large, desolate sections of land absent of hickory, oak, and maple trees. That’s not the case here. As Reed looks over a tract of land they farmed for firewood in recent years, he bends down to point out oak and maple saplings flourishing on the forest floor.

Tallow Creek Farm
Tallow Creek Farm

Nearly 1,330 acres of the property has a long history of logger choice harvest and occasional wildfire. This left mostly small-to-medium saw timber with a large percentage of low quality, less desirable species. The family has been working to improve timber quality through cull tree removal and mid-story removal for regeneration.

New Tree App Builds Partnerships Between Citizens and Scientists
New Tree App Builds Partnerships Between Citizens and Scientists

TreeSnap, new phone app developed by the University of Kentucky Forest Health Research Center and the University of Tennessee Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology for Android and iOS cell phones is designed to connect scientists with foresters, landowners and interested citizens in an effort to protect and restore the nation’s trees.

From Shelbyville to Frankfort in eight years
From Shelbyville to Frankfort in eight years

It’s taken eight years, but the hard work has finally paid off at Shelby Christmas Tree Farm & Nursery.

In 2008, Vivek Sarin and Ron Stella formed a partnership. Sarin owned a 4-acre field in Shelbyville but had no agricultural experience. Stella had farming experience but no land to put it to use. 

How to Grow a Christmas Tree
How to Grow a Christmas Tree

It starts with a pinecone. Like any other seed, pine seeds must be pollinated and allowed to germinate before the possibility of growth can occur. External conditions, such as soil quality and weather must also be right for a new tree to take root. That process is surprisingly lengthy, sometimes taking a year or more.

Effects of forest fires reverberate into economy
Effects of forest fires reverberate into economy

The forestry sector plays a major role in Kentucky’s economy. The state has recently been hit hard by forest fires in the eastern and southern regions, and the damage will be felt statewide.

Paper Industry Keeps Forests Healthy
Paper Industry Keeps Forests Healthy

With 47 percent of Kentucky’s land in forest, it is no doubt that the Commonwealth has been a prime location for paper mills. In fact, paper production and finishing brought more than $5 billion to the Kentucky economy last year, according to the 2015 University of Kentucky Forestry Economic Impact Report.

Eastern Kentucky Students Learn About Our Forests and Wood Production
Eastern Kentucky Students Learn About Our Forests and Wood Production

In an effort to teach students the value of Kentucky’s vast woodland and forestry industry, Harlan County Farm Bureau (HCFB) implemented a plan last fall to reach all 5th graders in the county through a forestry field day.