Southern Region LSR
A bold effort to restore white oak forests across Kentucky and its neighboring states is gaining momentum, powered by two competitive grants from the USDA Forest Service and a growing network of committed partners.
With over $1.1 million in funding from the Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) program, the Kentucky Division of Forestry is leading a multi-state initiative to restore and sustain upland oak ecosystems. In partnership with the Arkansas Forestry Commission, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Virginia Department of Forestry, North Carolina Forest Service, University of Kentucky, and the White Oak Initiative, this project puts white oak regeneration at the center of regional forest health and sustainability efforts.
Collaborating for Regional Solutions
The LSR program, administered by the USDA Forest Service Southern Region, brings together state forestry agencies to tackle high-priority conservation challenges. Awards granted in 2018 and 2021—totaling $1.1 million—are fueling coordinated action across Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia.
This initiative unites:
Forestry professionals and scientists
Academic and research institutions
State and federal agencies
Private landowners, nonprofits, and industry partners
The result is a strategic, science-driven response to the threats facing white oak—and a model for large-scale forest restoration.
Engaging the Stewards of Our Forests
Most of the white oak growing across the Southeast is found on privately owned land. That means landowners are at the heart of any long-term solution. In Kentucky, white oak isn’t just ecologically important—it’s a foundation of the state’s economy, supporting global exports and supplying the $8.6 billion bourbon industry.
This project supports landowners by offering:
Awareness & Education
Sharing the importance of forest management and the risks of delayed action.On-the-Ground Guidance
Connecting families with foresters who can walk the land, develop plans, and offer tailored advice.Access to Incentives
Helping landowners tap into cost-share opportunities to reduce the burden of restoration work.
Through these efforts, landowners gain the knowledge, resources, and confidence to act—and to become lasting stewards of white oak forests.
Shaping a Sustainable Future
White oak restoration isn’t just about preserving a tree species—it’s about creating a future where economic prosperity and ecological responsibility grow together.
Without action, white oak populations are expected to decline significantly over the next decade. But with proactive management, these forests can continue to deliver clean water, wildlife habitat, jobs, cultural value, and climate benefits.
At the heart of this project is the White Oak Conservation Plan, developed by the American Forest Foundation and University of Kentucky in collaboration with the White Oak Initiative. The plan outlines ten key management practices that, when widely applied, can sustain white oak across more than 100 million acres of U.S. forestland.
This effort is a call to action—to landowners, professionals, industry, and communities—to protect this iconic hardwood for generations to come.
To learn more, contact:
Pamela Snyder, Director
Kentucky Division of Forestry
Pamela.Snyder@ky.gov