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Environment and Natural Resources

Tennessee's abundant natural resources are one of our greatest assets. Educating resource owners, consumers and the public in the science, management, and appreciation of these resources is the key to preserving these assets. Disposal of solid waste, the quality of water and indoor air quality are major environmental concerns. UT Extension faculty teach consumers how to reduce solid waste through recylcing, reuse and composting and how to protect and improve water and indoor air quality. Extension faculty also educate producers about the proper application, handling and disposal of pesticides and fertilizers. Please contact your county UT Extension office to learn more about what environmental stewardship and natural resources programs are available in your area.


What's Contained in this Site:

News and Highlights
Educational Programs and Services 
Department and Unit Web Sites Related to the Environment and Natural Resources
Publications Related to the Environment and Natural Resources

 

News and Highlights

  Southern Pine Beetle Management Web Site
  Beetles to the Rescue: Natural Enemy Released To Save Native Hemlocks
  Repairing Storm Damage in Trees



Educational Programs and Services

Please contact your county Extension office to learn more about what environmental and natural resources programs are available in your area.


NATURAL RESOURCES

Forest Landowner Education
Eductaional programs and resource demonstrations for non-industrial private forest landowners.

Forest-A-Syst
A cooperative effort designed to help private landowners establish a forest management plan

Backyard Wildlife Management
Home and landowners are taught how to manage the habitat around their homes to benefit wildlife and provide additional wildlife viewing opportunities. In addition, techniques and laws concerning managing wildlife damage are addressed (Supporting publication: PB1633 and PB1624 also PB1639 and SP530)

Beekeeping in Tennessee
Provides information on beekeeping as a pleasing and profitable occupation.

Establishing and Managing Food Plots for Wildlife
Landowners and hunters are taught how food plots can be incorporated into a habitat management plan. Detailed information on food plot placement, arrangement, establishment and management are given. (Supporting publications: SP550-A and SP550-B)

Establishing and Managing Native Warm-Season Grasses (NWSG) for Wildlife
Programs encourage landowners to establish native warm-season grasses primarily to improve habitat for quail, rabbits and other wildlife species.

Establishing Hunt Leases
Landowners are taught how to develop hunt lease arrangements as an alternative source of income.

4-H Wildlife Projects
Tennessee youth are taught wildlife ecology and management through various programs. (Supporting publications: PB1682, PB1687, all the 4-H Member Guides for Wildlife and Southern Region 4-H Wildlife Series Web site at http://www.nc4h.org/enrichment/wildlife/index.html)

Forest Management for Wildlife
Landowners are instructed on how to manage their woodlots through timber stand improvement and harvest for enhanced wildlife habitat.

Managing Small-Game Habitat on the Farm
Farmers are encouraged to enhance small-game habitat on their farm through a variety of habitat management methods.

Quality Deer Management
New perspectives in deer management are provided to hunters and landowners.


ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Livestock Waste Management and Conservation
This new Web site was developed for Tennessee livestock producers. The site contains information on waste management, CAFO regulations, conservation practices and other issues.

Animal Waste Management Systems
A state-wide animal waste management educational program.

Clean Water in Tennessee
Programs to protect and improve water quality and the environment.

Farm-A-Syst
Programs to help farm families and rural residents assess and reduce the risks affecting the quality of their water

Home-A-Syst
Programs designed to help homeowners assess factors in the home that can affect the health and safety of families and the environment.

Forest Landowner Education
Eductaional programs and resource demonstrations for non-industrial private forest landowners.

Forest-A-Syst
A cooperative effort designed to help private landowners establish a forest management plan


WOOD PRODUCTS

Hardwood Lumber Manufacturing
Extension activities focus on educational programming targeted at increasing knowledge of practices that will improve production efficiency and increase raw material utilization, increase the awareness of new methods of dealing with wood wastes, and value-added market opportunities.

Lumber Drying
Extension programs focus on educating kiln operators, drying yard managers and rough-mill quality control personnel about proper methods of drying lumber. Focus is also placed on proven quality control methods that will improve utilization of the state's resources.

Moisture in Manufacturing
Extension education focuses on increasing the industry’s knowledge of how environmental conditions, wood properties, handling, and processing affect wood products. This knowledge will reduce the material losses experienced by companies and allow Tennessee’s secondary wood industry to better utilize the resource and become more competitive.

Solar Lumber Drying Short Course
The Tennessee Forest Products Center is offering a short course specifically targeted towards the solar drying of lumber.

Wood Use Around the Home
Education programs for wood product consumers including the selection and protection of wood products used outdoors, home building materials, and wood products used in homes.

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Department and Unit Web Sites Related to the Environment and Natural Resources

For more information related to the topic of the environment and natural resources, please visit the following departments' or units' homepages:

  Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries
  Department of Agricultural Economics
  Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soill Science
  UT Forestry Experiment Station
  UT Arboretum
  Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
  Department of Plant Sciences
  Center for Profitable Agriculture
  Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

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Publications Related to the Environment and Natural Resources

Publications are also available in print format from your county Extension office. Departmental publications and newsletters are available from department Web sites.


  Environment
  Forestry, Trees and Timber
  Trees for Tennessee Landscapes
  Wildlife and Fisheries
  Pests and Plant Diseases
  Commercial Horticulture
  Home Garden, Lawn & Landscape
  Marketing and Value-Added Agriculture

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