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Administration; Lands-Management
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 10, 2023) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service signed an agreement today with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to strengthen its commitment to collaboratively manage lands and waters throughout the state.
Under the agreement, all parties agree to collaborate to:
The agreement reaffirms the USDA’s commitment to work with the commonwealth using the best available science to manage and enhance private and public lands within Kentucky. Agencies that signed on to the agreement include: the USDA Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, along with Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
“Land managers in Kentucky face a range of challenges, from loss of forestland, effects of catastrophic storms and flooding; insect, disease and invasive insect pest outbreaks, and a lack of adequate markets to promote investments in sustainable forest management,” said Ken Arney, regional forester for the USDA Forest Service, Southern Region. “This shared stewardship agreement provides an incredible opportunity to work with Kentucky in combining skills and resources, to set shared priorities and promote healthy forests on public and private lands.”
Kentucky becomes the 13th state in the South and final state in the nation to sign such an agreement to strengthen partnerships within the state to increase the scope and scale of critical forest treatments that support communities and improve forest conditions.
The agreement can be found online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/shared-stewardship. The agreement was signed at the Kentucky State Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Learn more about how the Forest Service shares stewardship here.
Organization-Specific Press Release Quotes
Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet - Cabinet Secretary Jamie Link
“The Education and Labor Cabinet works through its Kentucky Environmental Education Council to promote learning and skills to protect and nurture our environment. The agency engages Kentuckians from an early age in environmental stewardship and educational activities to help them understand our responsibility to work together to address our natural resource concerns. As I sign this MOU on behalf of our cabinet, I look forward to even greater collaboration between our state agencies and the federal government on a variety of issues including land and water conservation and fostering a sustainable and economically healthy environment,” said Education and Labor Cabinet Secretary Jamie Link.
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet - Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman
“We know that federal, state and private managers of forest land in Kentucky face urgent challenges, among them catastrophic storms, droughts, flooding, insect and disease outbreaks, and invasive species,” Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman said. “We stand ready to meet these challenges by working with our partners to identify and overcome the threats to forest and ecosystem health.”
Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet - Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier
“Our natural resources are critical to Kentucky’s tourism and our future,” said Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “The shared stewardship agreement will support some of our Commonwealth’s most cherished sites such as Land Between the Lakes, the Daniel Boone National Forest and many more. We are proud to take part in this historic effort, which will benefit our landscape.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources – Commissioner Rich Storm
“We highly value our partnerships with the USDA Forest Service and the other natural resource agencies in Kentucky, and are excited about enhancing our coordination, planning and implementation of future projects through this historic agreement,” said Rich Storm, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We look forward to together delivering even more conservation successes for the commonwealth through our heightened collaboration on Daniel Boone National Forest and Land Between the Lakes.”
Kentucky Department of Parks – Commissioner Russ Meyer
“Kentucky’s state parks are renowned for their natural beauty,” said Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Russ Meyer. “Visitors look forward to exploring the forests and observing wildlife, and this agreement will ensure that these resources are protected in the near-term and for future generations. Kentucky State Parks stand ready to assist in the implementation of this important agreement.”
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet- Secretary Jim Gray
“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is understandably identified with bridges and highways. Often overlooked is the cabinet’s considerable role as an environmental steward. Our projects routinely include exhaustive environmental analysis. Our team of engineers is complemented by our botanists, biologists, archaeologists and geologists. Our mission is to provide a transportation system that is safe and efficient but also is environmentally sound and enhances the quality of life in Kentucky. The U.S. Forest Service is a great partner in this mission.”
Natural Resources Conservation Service- Acting Regional Conservationist Jon Hubbert
“The forests of Kentucky are critical resources for current and future generations. To ensure the forests long term ability to provide clean air, water, wildlife habitat, and rural and urban beauty the NRCS is excited to support our partner agencies in implementing this agreement across the Commonwealth. The NRCS voluntary and incentive-based approach of working with private landowners fills a need that will lead to long term sustainability of Kentucky’s rich forest resources.”
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