Robinson Forest

Robinson Forest
Robinson Forest
Location	Breathitt, Knott, and Perry counties, Kentucky
Nearest city	Jackson, Kentucky
Coordinates	37°28′23″N 83°08′36″W / 37.47306°N 83.14333°W
Area	14,786 acres (59.84 km2)
Established	1923
Governing body	University of Kentucky Department of Forestry

The Robinson Forest is a research, education, and extension forest owned by the University of Kentucky and managed by the Department of Forestry in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. The forest covers 14,786 acres (59.84 km²) in Breathitt, Knott and Perry counties in Kentucky's Cumberland Plateau region. The main block of Robinson Forest contains approximately 10,000 contiguous acres while the remaining acreage is found in outlying tracts.

History

In 1908, E.O Robinson and Fredrick W. Mowbray of the Mowbray-Robinson Lumber Company based out of

West Irvine and Quicksand, thereby providing access to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.^[1]

However, by 1922 the majority of the

Eastern Kentucky.^[1] By 1925, workers from the university moved to the forest and work began on removing the former structures and forest regeneration began in certain areas. The first forester, C.H. Burrage, spent several years mapping property boundaries and organizing fire protection.^[2]

From 1933 to 1937, the Civilian Conservation Corps was involved in many projects within the forest including: building bridges, fire towers, and fire breaks; installing telephone lines; establishing tree plantations; doing timber stand improvements; and improving roads. They also removed American chestnuts that had been killed by the chestnut blight. These logs were then used in 1939 by the National Youth Authority to build the cabins and other facilities on present-day Boardinghouse Branch. In 1947, the forest also became a wildlife restoration area. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse were successfully stocked.^[2]

In 1970, the University of Kentucky's Department of Forestry was established, creating new interest in forestry and water quality.^[2] Since that time management of the forest has been performed by the Department operating under guidelines approved by the University of Kentucky's Board of Trustees. Today, Robinson Forest serves as one of the largest educational forests east of the Mississippi River.^[3]