Cumberland Plateau NFWF
The restoration of white oak forests on nearly 10,000 acres across Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee is about to begin, fueled by over $1 million in funding.
A $687,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, together with significant match funding from Dendrifund, Jack Daniel’s, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, and state partners is supporting this cross-state initiative, spanning Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. The Alabama Forestry Foundation, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association, Tennessee Forestry Foundation, and the White Oak Initiative are working together to engage family forest owners across the Cumberland Plateau.
Partnering for Impact
With support from this NFWF grant, which specializes in blending public and private funding for greater on-the-ground conservation impact, our team was awarded funding to address these challenges head-on.
This project brings together:
Forestry and conservation experts
State and local agencies
Nonprofits and technical service providers
Family landowners and industry stakeholders
Working with Landowners
A majority of forests across the Cumberland Plateau are owned by small family landowners. These landowners play a critical role in the future of white oak. This project focuses on:
Education and outreach to shift mindsets and raise awareness about the importance of forest management.
Technical assistance, connecting landowners with forestry professionals who can walk their land, offer tailored guidance, and recommend effective practices.
Access to resources, including cost-share programs that help offset the financial burden of active forest management.
We’re working to reach more landowners, providing tools and knowledge to restore and manage forests for the long term.
A New Way Forward
This isn’t just about trees; it’s about redefining the relationship between the economy and the environment. For too long, those paths were seen as separate. Through this collaboration, we’re proving they can move in the same direction.
Forests are a renewable resource, and with the right management, they can provide environmental, cultural, and economic benefits for generations to come. We believe it’s both an honor and a responsibility to steward woodlands, and we are proud to help others do the same.
For more information on this project, please contact Chris Erwin, Executive Vice President, Alabama Forestry Foundation, at cerwin@alaforestry.org.