USDA, Kentucky enter agreement to improve forest health statewide

Release Date: 

Contact(s): Tim Eling


Frankfort, KY, Aug. 10, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Services signed an agreement today with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to strengthen its commitment to collaboratively manage lands and waters throughout the state.

Nature transcends jurisdictional boundaries, and so should our management of it. That’s why, through this agreement, we agree to tackle challenges together that require collaboration and innovation, including:

  • Identify land management priorities.
  • Mitigate and/or co-manage ecological health risks and natural catastrophes.
  • Protect and enhance water quality and quantity.
  • Improve air quality and conserve energy.
  • Assist communities in planning for and reducing wildfire risks.
  • Maintain and enhance the economic benefits and values of forests.
  • Protect, conserve, and enhance wildlife and fish habitat, including rare species and rare communities.

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. Kentucky’s forests and water will benefit from strengthened partnerships between these agencies; attendees included:

  • US Forest Service:
    • Regional Forester Ken Arney
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service:
    • (acting) Regional Conservationist Jon Hubbert
  • Commonwealth of Kentucky:
    • Kentucky Education and Labor Secretary Jamie Link
    • Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman
    • Kentucky Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier
    • Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Deputy Commissioner Brian Clark
    • Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Russ Meyer
    • Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray

Shared stewardship agreements between federal and state agencies establish a framework to improve collaboration, accomplish mutual goals, further common interests and effectively respond to the increasing ecological challenges and natural resource concerns.

“Land managers in Kentucky face a range of challenges, from loss of forestland, effects of catastrophic storms and flooding; insect, disease and invasive insect outbreaks, and a lack of adequate markets to promote investments in sustainable forest management,” said Ken Arney, regional forester for the 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.