“The grants will engage more than 1,400 private landowners through outreach and assistance and will be matched to bring the total to $2.6 million. The groups will largely work with landowners of large properties to teach proper land management skills,” Mark Pace reports.
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Jay Jensen, the foundation's southern regional office director, said, "From our standpoint, for that whole region, the Cumberland Plateau is one amazing place for wildlife.”
The foundation's annual Cumberland Plateau Stewardship Fund works to “restore, enhance and protect shortleaf pine and riparian forests and in-stream habitats in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.”
Riparian refers to forested or woodland areas adjacent to a body of water such as a stream, river or pond.
The projects covered by the grants will focus on the plateau’s shortleaf pine and oak stands.
“Their ecosystems have dwindled due to forest conversion, a lack of prescribed fire, disease and pest infestation. That loss converted much of the land to heavily forested area and contributed to the decline of bird species such as Bachman's sparrow, brown-headed nuthatch and prairie warbler,” the paper reported.
The Cumberland Plateau is in the southern portion of the Appalachian Mountains and includes much of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee and part of northern Alabama and northwest Georgia.
In a separate conservation project, the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund has acquired 2,040 forested acres to provide “hiking, birding and other passive recreation opportunities, as well as conserve a habitat for rare species, including the federally listed Northern long-eared bat and several state-listed plants,” the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet announced.
The acreage is part of the Pine Mountain State Scenic Trail in Bell County.
“Pine Mountain is truly one of Kentucky’s natural treasures, and the Pine Mountain Trail plays an important role in helping folks experience and enjoy the mountain,” Zeb Weese, KHLCF chairman and executive director of the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, said in a news release. “Once the trail is completed this property will be the access point closest to Pineville and Pine Mountain State Resort Park.”
from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/2KeeJ7z National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant helps restore Cumberland Plateau; Ky. adds acreage to state scenic trail - Entrepreneur Generations
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