Written By
Environmental Education/Outreach Specialist, Makenzie Foster, attended the 2024 Appalachia Historically Marginalized Private Landowner Workshop in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Hosted at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, multiple agencies, non-profits, and organizations came together to present private land owners in the area with opportunities available to them that may go unnoticed. The USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Service's Program led this two-day workshop which highlighted those who work closely with landowners to achieve various goals such as wildlife habitat improvement, agricultural infrastructure, etc.
The landowners were encouraged to visit informational booths set up by each entity, then invited to join the representatives for dinner to discuss their specific questions, concerns, and interests. Following short presentations from each group, the landowners were given the opportunity to address the group as a whole with the goals of their land, and immediately put into contact with the appropriate associate. Many success stories were shared from landowners who had previously implemented plans written for them by one or more of the organizations in attendance, including tales of booming wildlife populations, erosion eradication, reimbursements for agricultural equipment, etc. Organizations represented at this workshop included Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKen), Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife, Community Farm Alliance, Grow Appalachia, Kentucky Division of Forestry, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kentucky Division of Conservation, and Cookeville and Frankfort USFWS Ecological Services Offices.
