This was originally a University of Kentucky publication. They changed or dropped the link so this is a copy from the Wayback Machine.

What Is Forestry?

A project developed and designed by Dr. Marcella Szymanski, Assistant Extension Specialist in Forest Economics and Natural Resources; Gwenda Adkins, Family and Consumer Science Agent, Elliott County; William Thomas, Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent, Elliott County

Forestry starts with trees—knowing how they grow and what part they play in the world as a whole. It helps to know the history of the forest, what kinds of animals live there, and what makes Kentucky's forests special.

Forests affect how we live and provide many things we use, so it is important to take care of them, understand what they give us, and use them wisely. It is also important to know about jobs for people who want to work with trees, timber, or lumber.

We need to understand the effect of today's world on the forests of the future, and we need to think about what kind of forests we would like our grandchildren to enjoy.

Students at Isonville Elementary, Lakeside Elementary, and Sandy Hook Elementary in Elliott County, Kentucky, have provided the artwork and ideas in this booklet to help educate others about our forests and forest resource issues.

These words and pictures show how much a group of young people can come to appreciate Kentucky's forests. We hope they will help you care about our forests, too.

The History of the Forest

Katie Ison's fourth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

I remember when an ice storm came through our area and broke down most of the trees!

The forest has been changed by many things: weather, insects, disease, and people.

When Daniel Boone came to Kentucky, much of the land was covered with large trees, and native peoples were the caretakers of the forest. Later some trees were cut, and land was cleared by settlers for homes and farms. In the late 1800s to early 1900s, the forests changed because of widespread logging. The trees Daniel Boone saw when he came to the state were cut.

When trees are cut from the forest, it leaves room for new trees to grow. This is what has happened in Kentucky, and if Daniel Boone returned today, he would see lots of trees but a different forest.

How the Forest Grows

Laura Sparks' fourth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"Seeds can travel many different ways. You can even carry one in your shoe."

Trees need air, water, sunshine, and minerals.

There are many different parts of the tree. The roots hold the tree in the ground and give the tree water and minerals. The bark protects the tree like skin protects humans. The leaves make food for the tree. The stem and branches hold up the leaves.

The forest has layers. The top is called the canopy and is made of larger trees. The middle is called the understory and is made of smaller trees. The bottom is called the forest floor, or ground.

Life in Kentucky's Forests

Linda Stafford's fifth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"Animals are not the only thing alive in the forest. There are also plants, like poison ivy."

There are more than 300 kinds of wildlife living in Kentucky's forests. The forest provides habitat for wildlife, so taking care of the forest takes care of where the animals live.

There are around 200 different kinds of trees and shrubs in Kentucky, and about 50 of these can bring in income.

The Importance of the Forest to Our Environment

Darreline Lewis' fourth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

"The forest is like our community, always changing."

Trees hold the soil in place and keep it from washing into the creeks. Forests provide a special place for many animals and small plants.

The forest is like a puzzle; everything is connected: the animals, plants, soil, water, and trees. They all depend each other.

Everything is tied to everything else like a spider web. When you move one piece, it affects other parts.

Today's Trends and the Future of the Forest

Betty Williams' sixth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary

"It is up to us to make a decision now as to what our future forests will be."

Fire can take waste out of the forest, but uncontrolled fires can be bad and cause a loss of future income from your forest.

If you keep taking the best trees out of the forest and leave the bad trees, the forest's value is decreased, which is called high grading. Damaged trees become more open to insects and disease.

You need to balance or care for what you take from the forest so the future forest increases in quality.

As cities grow in what is called sprawl, land is cleared that results in a loss of forest and agricultural land and a loss of habitat, or places for animals to live.

How the Forest Affects Our Community

Linda Stafford's fifth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"If we take care of the forest, it can provide a lot of what we need to live: a place to work, a place to live, a place to play."

The forest provides homes, food, jobs, and a place to play, and it cleans water. A forest provides a place for recreation: hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping.

The trees are pretty in the spring and fall and that makes people want to come and see the forest.

Lots of people make a living from the forest: loggers, truck drivers, and people in many other careers.

Forest Products

Denise Boggs' fourth grade class, Isonville Elementary

"I had no idea there are so many things that come from trees."

Over 5,000 products come from the forest: lumber, makeup, toothpaste, paper, pencils, maple syrup, oxygen, medicines, furniture, and many more. The forests are a renewable resource. Managing our forests well will allow us to have a continuous supply of forest products.

From Forest to Product—What Is the Process?

Toni Johnson's sixth grade class, Lakeside Elementary

"I did not realize the number of jobs in the forest industry."

It takes more than one step to produce a product:

The logger or mill owner buys trees from the landowner.
The trees are cut or harvested and then gathered at the log landing.
At the log landing the trees are loaded on a truck and driven to a mill.
At the mill, the logs are separated, sawn into lumber, and dried.
The lumber is loaded onto trucks and shipped to stores.
People or companies buy the lumber and build products such as furniture or flooring.

Careers the Forest Holds for Us

Sharon Boggs' sixth grade class, Isonville Elementary
"To get a job in forestry, you should do well in school. Some jobs in forestry require you to go to college or technical school."
- Wildlife biologists study wildlife.
- Foresters make forest management (care) plans.
- Consulting foresters help people selling timber.
- Naturalists teach about the environment.
- Loggers harvest the trees.
- Equipment operators run bulldozers, skidders, booms, or trucks.
- Mechanics fix forestry equipment.
- Forest engineers plan logging operations.
- Artisans obtain materials from the forest to create art.
- Lumber mill owners/operators saw logs into boards.
- Carpenters make wood into furniture.
- Machinists make furniture and other forest products.
- Forest scientists study the forest.
- Botanists study plants.
What Do We Want the Forest to Look Like in 100 Years?

Shana Reed's fourth/fifth grade class, Lakeside Elementary
"We would like a forest with no trash, healthy trees, homes for animals, and a natural and peaceful setting with clean rivers."
If you could look out your window at a forest in 100 years, what would you want to see?
It could be a healthy forest, lots of wild flowers, different kinds of wildlife, an investment for your grandchildren that could send them to college, the trees you climbed when you were a child, and a creek with clean water.

Caring for Our Forests

Robin Griffith's fifth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary
"If you care for the forest, it will give you more of what you want and need."
We can take care of our forests for many different reasons, including providing timber, recreation, water, and a home for wildlife.
To decide how we want to take care of our forests, we need to think about how we want our forests to look in future. Do we want income from the forests, hiking trails, wildlife, or something else? With a good forest plan we can have many choices.
Caring for our forests is like raising our children; the attention we give them will determine their outcome.

Caring for Our Trees Pays

Brenda Bradford's sixth grade class, Lakeside Elementary
"I realized how important it is to take care of your trees so they will be worth more money in the future."
It is important to take care of our trees so they will be worth more in the future.
Preventing fires from getting out of control and not using living trees for fence posts will make our trees more valuable. While not all fire is bad, fires that are uncontrolled or "torched" do damage and cost money. Although fire can kill trees, more often fire just causes damage and allows insects and disease to attack. In future years the damaged trees may look sound, but the heartwood or core of the trees may be rotten, which takes away from the quality of the wood and its value.

Forest Harvesting

Freida Tussey's fifth grade class, Isonville Elementary
"Cutting trees is not bad, but it needs to be well planned."
There are many ways to harvest trees:
- Group selection is taking a group of trees from only one area. It can prevent the spread of insects or disease and can help keep the forest healthy.
- Single tree selection is taking selected single trees from throughout the forest. It provides trees for certain products like white ash for baseball bats.
- Clear-cutting removes all the trees in an area and lets in more sun for new trees to grow.
- Thinning removes some trees to allow other trees to grow better.
- Seed tree cutting leaves a few well-spaced trees for re-seeding the area.
Trees can grow back or re-sprout from the stump and roots of cut trees.

What to Know Before Selling Timber

Vicky Riffe's sixth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary
"Before I sell my timber, I want to have written on paper what's going to happen."
Here are steps to follow before selling timber:
1. Decide if you want to sell the whole "boundary"or just part of the timber on your farm.
2. Decide how you want to sell your timber: Ask a forester to help you make a decision (for help finding a forester, go to page 17).
3. Request a reference to find out how well the logger did on other jobs.
4. Advertise widely. If you only get one offer, how can you know if it is a high offer or a low offer?
5. Sell by written contract to protect both you and the logger.
6. Oversee the sale. Make sure the contract is followed.
  
  Resources for Forest Information
  
  Jady Skaggs' fifth grade class, Sandy Hook Elementary
  "All the information is available for you; all you have to do is ask."
  - Kentucky Division of Forestry: Call (800) 866-0555 or (502) 564-4496 to find out the phone number of your county forester, who can make up a free forest management plan for you.
  - Cooperative Extension Service: Find it in the phone book under the name of your county. An Extension agent can provide you with a list of loggers and consulting foresters.
  - Natural Resources and Conservation Service: Call (859) 224-7350 for conservation plans for water and soil quality and information about the Forestry Incentive Program (FIP), which will pay part of the cost of replanting trees if you have a forest management plan.
  - Consulting foresters: Contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office for a list of consulting foresters, who charge a small fee but usually help get a better price for timber.
  About This Project
  
  We wanted to celebrate one of our best assets in Kentucky, our youth, by using their help to create a publication for all ages to explain forest resource issues.
  Students at Isonville, Lakeside, and Sandy Hook elementary schools in Elliott County, Kentucky, took part in a 4-H project using interactive educational activities about 15 different topics in forestry.
  The youth were asked to tell us, in words and drawings, what they learned for each of the15 different topics.
  This project was developed and designed by Dr. Marcella Szymanski, Assistant Extension Specialist in Forest Economics and Natural Resources; Gwenda Adkins, Family and Consumer Science Agent, Elliott County; and William Thomas, Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent, Elliott County. Educational activities were provided by Project Learning Tree and Project Wild. Information was provided by the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Daniel Boone National Forest. Some information was specifically designed for this project by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
  We would like to thank students and teachers at Isonville, Lakeside, and Sandy Hook elementary schools for their hard work on the project. We thank Debbie Murray, Extension Program Director of the Northeast Area for her support. For their help in reviewing this publication we thank Dr. Jeff Stringer, Assistant Extension Specialist in Hardwood Siliviculture; Doug McLaren, Forestry Extension Associate; and Laurie Taylor, Natural Resource Educator. We also thank UK Agricultural Communications Services for its assistance and the Kentucky Division of Forestry for help with educational activities.
  A special thanks to our sponsors: This work was made possible with financial support from the Robinson Forest Initiative Trust, the Northeast Area Homemakers Association, and an Agriculture Achievers grant from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
  
  Participating Schools
  
  Isonville Elementary School
  Fourth Grade
  Teacher: Denise Boggs
  Scott Orban Barker
  Michael S. Eldridge
  Jonathan P. Ferguson
  Tiffany Dawn Fields
  Jessica N. Gilliam
  Lucas D. Gilliam
  Carmen D. Hall
  Michael J. Hay
  Shelia M. Laney
  Elizabeth S. Lovato
  Kimberly McDowell
  Nathan Von McDowell
  Ronnie C. Oney
  Aaron Michael Peters
  Tyler R. Riggsby
  Heather Lynn Skaggs
  Silena Skaggs
  Meggan Renee Sloas
  Kayla N. Stephens
  Elizabeth C. Thomas
  Nicole Renee Wagoner
  Brandle A. Wells
  Amanda F. Whitley
  Fifth Grade
  Teacher: Freda Tussey
  Lori A. Adkins
  Brittany J. Barker
  Kelley Marie Barker
  Samantha A. Cox
  Amanda Eldridge
  Gregory N. Gilliam
  Christopher A. Hall
  Jonathan J. Hall
  Ashley Keaton
  Billy Maxie
  Bonnie M. Maxie
  Hazel Maxie
  Timothy R. Maxie
  Rodney D. Messina
  Tiffany R. Mullett
  Cory E. Opp
  Garrick Pennington
  Jessica R. Salyers
  Sarah J. Salyers
  James Z. Skaggs
  Adrianna Sturgill
  Nathan L. Sturgill
  Donald C. Vaughn
  Amy M. Wagoner
  Joanna L. Wagoner
  Kimberly W. Wagoner
  Rachel C. Wagoner
  Sixth Grade
  Teacher: Sharon Sloas Boggs
  April N. Blankenship
  William J. Conley
  Kayla R. Evans
  Lacy D. Lewis
  Nathan S. Lewis
  Anastasia N. Lovato
  Travis L. Matthews
  Margaret C. Maxie
  Willis A. Maxie
  Sarah E. Porter
  Rebecca Sue Rupe
  David Skaggs
  Keshia D. Skaggs
  Johnny G. Stevens
  Justin R. Wagoner
  Windy R. Wagoner
  Rebecka J. Whitley
  Lakeside Elementary School
  Fourth Grade
  Teachers: Laura Sparks & Shana Reed
  Marissa C. Adkins
  Seth Alan Adkins
  Mikeal Joe Barker
  Megan Danielle Boggs
  Joseph Adam Conley
  Willard Justin Conn
  Christopher E. Dickerson
  David Leston Dyka
  Cheisi A. Elliott
  Samatha J. Griffith
  Corey Hall
  Bradley S. Hickman
  Crystal L. Holbrook
  Kera Ann Howard
  Tella Marie Johnson
  Joshua C. Leadingham
  Zachary James Lewis
  Tabathia L. Mason
  Stacy D. Middleton
  Britanni A. Parmley
  Beverly N. Porter
  Lauren R. Porter
  Aaron Brent Randolph
  Whitney N. Salyers
  Alyssa Ann Skaggs
  Danielle L. Skaggs
  Lashawn Angel Skaggs
  Damen Lee Smith
  Braydan S. Tucker
  Fifth Grade
  Teachers: Linda Stafford & Shana Reed
  Corey T. Bames
  Danny Martin Bayless
  Leevon Bear
  Matthew T. Blevins
  Tasha R. Carrington
  Joseph Aaron Carter
  Morgan E. Carver
  Ashley D. Cox
  Jonathan Ray Cox
  Shaun Riley Cox
  Nathan W. Davis
  Jared T. Dickerson
  Adam J. Eldridge
  Tommy Lee Garris
  Joshua Ray Greene
  Hallie Sue Griffith
  Kelsay D. Harper
  Lela N. Hickman
  Joshua S. Hill
  Melissa Leann Holbrook
  Sarah R. Ison
  Sarah Johnson
  Derrick Laney
  Christoph Leadington
  Hayley Nicole Lewis
  Natasha N. Lewis
  Justin L. Lyons
  Vickie Lee Nicholson
  Emily Grace Porter
  Jacob D. Randolph
  Keisha R. Randolph
  Brittany N. Rose
  Timothy E. Stephens
  Danielle Turner
  Latysha D. Walker
  Sixth Grade
  Teachers: Brenda Bradford & Toni Johnson
  Lisa Boggs
  Vanessa Sue Brown
  Reba Katherine Click
  Gregory L. Conn
  Michael Paul Cox
  Amelia Eldridge
  David Chase Evans
  Michael Scott Fannin
  Nancy K. Greene
  Thelma N. Griffith
  Troy J. Griffith
  Hilary D. Holbrook
  Leah E. Horton
  Adam L. Howard
  Alesha Howard
  Joshua Lewis
  Kayla Lewis
  Chelsa C. Markwell
  Andrew Alderick McLaughlin
  Nathan A. Moore
  Stephanie D. Porter
  Derek D. Randolph
  Jackie Reynolds
  Christopher R. Skaggs
  Jessica F. Smith
  Nathan Stephens
  Heather M. Stevens
  Derek Whisman
  Amber Nicole Wood
  Sandy Hook Elementary School
  Fourth Grade
  Teacher: Darreline Lewis
  Theressia M. Adkins
  Heavan Clevenger
  Matthew A. Elliott
  Caitlin Rose Fannin
  Ethan Grant Faulkner
  Evan Blake Faulkner
  Garrett Walter Fultz
  Jenna M. Gilliam
  Jacqueline H. Harmon
  Bobby Ray Howard
  Treyleigh Nichole Lewis
  Michael David Marx
  Brandy Moore
  Jonathan Moore
  Donovan Wade Perry
  Chrystal Riggsby
  Banasha Elaine Rowe
  Dustin Brian Eugene Russell
  Johnny Edward Skaggs Jr.
  Kevin Lee Stamper
  Megan A. Tolliver
  Talisa Danielle Wagoner
  Fourth Grade
  Teacher: Katie C. Ison
  Lacy Morgan Blevins
  Leah Kathryn Blevins
  Bethany Bowling
  Kaleb Carpenter
  Keith Anthony Center
  Billy Click
  Whitney Nicole Cline
  Bronson J. Flatt
  Krista Lynn Fultz
  David Ray Gillum
  Benjamin Terry Green
  Stephanie Juniper
  Charles A. Kibbey
  Mary Ann Noble
  Wayne T. Reynolds
  Joseph M. Stapleton
  Ricky K. Stevens
  Kaneatha Thornsberry
  John William Walter
  Kala Noel Wilson
  Sheena Rene Wilson
  Fifth Grade
  Teacher: Robin L. Griffith
  Samantha K. Brickey
  Jeremy C. Clinger
  Heather Eagle
  Justin Tyler Fannin
  Billy Malcolm Fultz
  Cassie M. Gray
  Bryan Lee Holland
  Korey Scott Ingram
  Samantha Faye Ison
  Andrew Zachary Le
  Amber Nicole Mofford
  James Talbit Nickell
  Paul O'Neal Jr.
  Nathan Adam Perry
  Lucas Lee Stegall
  Brittany D. Stephens
  Maynard A. Stevens
  James Michael Trimble
  Laken Hope Wilder
  Mary A. Williamson
  Danielle Wolfenbarger
  Fifth Grade
  Teacher: Jady R. Skaggs
  Angel Renee Brown
  Jeremiah Joseph Butts
  Kaleigh Carter
  Rachel Marie Castle
  Melissa G. Clevenger
  Caitlin Coffey
  Brian K. Eldridge
  Bethann M. Englehardt
  Jeffery S. Flannery
  Monica Lee Fraley
  Samantha L. Gilliam
  Teara Noel Jessie
  Travis Colby Jones
  Brittany Renee Layne
  Sabra L. Lewis
  Joshua Allen Mason
  Sixth Grade
  Teacher: Betty S. Williams
  James K. Adkins
  Ashly N. Boggs
  Carol Layne Burton
  Frances Collette Burton
  Pamela Jean Cline
  Jeramie Elliott
  Brittany Ferguson
  Jessica E. Gilliam
  Adam L. Howard
  Ricky N. Juniper
  Amber N. Kinster
  William Anthon Mason
  Issac S. Smith
  Shelly Rena Smith
  Robert Brian Spears
  Whitney A. Thompson
  Trista June Wagoner
  Charles A. Weddington
  Charles Daniel Weddington
  Jordan Wilder
  Sixth Grade
  Teacher: Vicky Riffe
  Joann M. Brangard
  Cody A. Carpenter
  Amelia G. Conway
  Kendra E. Dickerson
  Jaclyn B. Ferguson
  Erica D. Gibson
  Cameron A. Griffith
  Justin Lee Kidd
  Dustin E. Line
  Aaron D. Moore
  Lisa M. Short
  Joshua Allen Sims
  Joshua Joe Smith
  Brenna Ann Telaroli
  Justin D. Watson
  Ronald E. Weddington
  Randi E. White
  Aleisha N. Whitt