Below are some things that students should research to prepare for the Kentucky Envirothon:
• Identify common trees without a key, and identify specific or unusual species of trees or shrubs through the use of a key.
• Understand forest ecology concepts and factors affecting them, including the relationship between soil and forest types, tree communities, regeneration, competition and succession.
• Understand the cause and effect relationship of factors affecting tree growth and forest development (climate, insects, microorganisms, wildlife, etc.).
• Understand how wildlife habitat relates to forest communities, forest species, forest age and structure, snags and den trees, availability of food and riparian zones.
• Understand how the following issues are affected by forest health and management: biological diversity, forest fragmentation, air quality, aesthetics, fire, global warming and recreation.
• Understand basic forest management concepts and tools such as how various silvicultural practices are utilized, the use of tree measuring devices and the best use of management practices.
• Apply silvicultural concepts and methods to develop general management recommendations and goals for a particular situation.
• Identify the complex factors that influence forest management decisions (e.g., economic, social and ecological).
• Understand the value of trees in urban/suburban settings and the factors affecting their health and survival.
Some definitions to know:
- board foot
- cord
- slope distance
- horizontal distance
- chain
- declination
- true north
- magnetic north
- azimuth
- section
- township
- range
- metes and bounds
- site index
- even-aged stand
- uneven-aged stand
- high grading
- pure versus mixed stand
- silviculture
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