Photo of prescribed fire research

Faculty of the Department conduct basic and applied research to support our understanding and use of forest ecosystems. Areas of emphasis and developing strength include silviculture and forest operations; wildlife ecology and conservation biology; forest health and ecological restoration; landscape and spatial ecology; natural resource policy and economics; urban ecology; and forest hydrology and watershed management.

Faculty and Research
Research Faculty



Research Faculty

Research Areas



Research Areas

Research Facilities



Research Facilities

Economic and Environmental Impacts

McIntire-Stennis, a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administered program, provides capacity funding supporting research and graduate student development in our Department. These projects have resulted in significant solutions addressing forest, water, and wildlife issues important to Kentucky and the region, resulting in significant environmental and economic contributions.

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125 million trees

planted using improved practices to reforest surface mines and abandoned agriculture lands

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3,319 streams

annually afforded protection through the use of scientifically developed timber harvesting best management practices

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$5.3 billion

in annual economic contributions positively impacted by research used by forest industry and in wildlife management

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251,200 acres

of privately owned forest land in Kentucky annually improved or positively impacted

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13 million

acres of public land in 8 states including Kentucky using research-based management