Large Forest Blocks of Kentucky

The Kentucky Large Forest Blocks Project was initiated to determine where and how many large tracts of forests remain in Kentucky. Although Kentucky remains approximately 50 percent forested, many of these forests occur as small woodlots or in small parcels, with larger areas of forest fragmented by roads, railroads, power lines, and agricultural fields.

Large forest blocks were identified using GIS modeling techniques. A minimum accepted size for a forest block was defined as 1,000 acres and 5,000 acres in eastern Kentucky where it is heavily forested. The goal of the first iteration of the project was to determine where large roadless areas occur throughout the state. The statewide roads data was used to identify roadless areas that met the acreage requirements. The roadless layer was overlaid with Gap Analysis Program land cover data to identify large roadless areas that were forested. More than 2,000 blocks of forest were identified, the largest of which was 71,500 acres.

Large tracts of relatively unbroken forest play an important role in conservation. Fragmented forests often lack the ability to perform many ecological functions. Many species of plants and animals require large interior forest areas to successfully reproduce and maintain population levels. In addition, smaller forested areas are heavily influenced by the forest edge, which allows for easier invasion of exotic plants and animals.

The Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission is mandated to protect Kentucky's natural heritage by establishing a statewide nature preserve system. Data collected through biological and ecological inventories, along with data from biologists and biological literature, is entered into the Kentucky Natural Heritage Program (KYNHP) database. The database is used to monitor species, prioritize conservation efforts, and conduct environmental reviews. The large forest block data is now used in conjunction with the KYNHP database to assess conservation priorities. Analysis of the various datasets assists in determining where ecologically important areas occur and designing plans for ecological corridors.

The second iteration of the Kentucky Large Forest Blocks Project is currently under way. Additional data layers and modeling techniques are being used, which will result in a finer delineation of the forest blocks. For more information, visit the Kentucky Nature Preserve Web site.