Research topics are as diverse as the preserves themselves and can include investigating specific questions that have arisen as preserve management issues, inventorying plants and animals, population studies, cave mapping, studying water quality and quantity or conducting forest health assessments. There are many benefits to conducting research on a state nature preserve. The dedication law that protects the preserves in perpetuity makes them more attractive to researchers seeking a stable site for long-term study. Funds to support research are available through the Sherri Evans Memorial Fund and the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund Board. Preserve management staff is available to provide some assistance with project logistics. Contact the nature preserves branch manager or the appropriate regional preserve manager for more information.

Educational opportunities are available on those preserves open to the general public. Teachers and professors are encouraged to take advantage of these “outdoor classrooms” for instructional use in any discipline. With a little imagination, subjects such as art, music, math and social studies as well as biology can be enhanced in a natural setting. While no curricula have been developed specifically for use at the majority of the preserves, the Kentucky Environmental Education Council and the Jefferson County Public School System have examples and sources of materials for use on-site.

Since the commission began tracking permits in 1991, more than 100 have been issued to researchers studying all facets of Kentucky’s environment. Research projects have included species inventories, genetic analysis of rare plants, seed germination studies, water quality assessments and soil analysis in association with prescribed burns.

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  Lynne Rieske-Kinney from the University of Kentucky is setting up permanent sampling plots on several of Kentucky’s preserves. She is tracking the establishment and impacts of the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect first discovered in Kentucky in 2006. Sampling methods will consist of collecting vegetation data, sampling ground-dwelling arthropods through leaf litter collection and pitfall traps, soil coring and collection of branch sections for adelgid confirmation.

• Neil Pederson from Eastern Kentucky University is collecting data at Three Ponds and Blanton Forest State Nature Preserves. Neil is investigating the drought history of the two areas and historical interaction between climate and ecosystem dynamics. Sampling methods include tree coring to help describe the age structure of the species studied and the installation of permanent low-impact plots for future studies.

We would like to thank everyone involved in all past and current projects and encourage future studies. Many questions have been answered that help us manage the preserve system’s natural communities and rare species. With every new preserve, more questions arise. Permits are available through Joyce Bender, branch manager for Nature Preserves and Natural Areas.