The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) honored the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with a partnership award for its collaborative efforts to help create what is now known as the Cumberland Forest Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the largest conservation easement in Kentucky. It conserves and provides permanent public access for hunting, fishing and other activities to 54,636 acres of private land.
“It was a great event and very encouraging to see each and every outstanding partner acknowledge that none of this work would be possible without partnerships. The Nature Conservancy was also recognized as an invaluable partner for its significant work on the Cumberland Forest project,” said RMEF East Mission Lead Steven Dobey.
Other project partners included KDFWR and the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Kentucky General Assembly and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The intimate gathering took place at KDFWR headquarters in Frankfort, but the focus was on the massive project 125 miles to the south in the heart of the state’s elk range. It allows KDFWR to manage the WMA for wildlife habitat, public recreation, sustainable forestry and clean water. The project also connected 274,000 acres of conserved land stretching into Tennessee that benefits elk, whitetail deer, black bears, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, songbirds, other wildlife and aquatic species.
“Acquisition of the Cumberland Forest Wildlife Management Area is a tremendous victory for both wildlife conservation and public access. It demonstrates how we can accomplish so much more working together than we can as individual organizations,” KDFWR Commissioner Rich Storm said in December 2023. “I want to thank the Kentucky General Assembly and all our partners for their financial and other support to secure this area for current and future generations to enjoy.”
To help make the project happen, RMEF advocated for legislation over two general assembly sessions to help secure funding. Additionally, RMEF also helped fund habitat enhancement work in the elk zone and will partner with KDFWR on upcoming elk research.
RMEF has a long conservation history in Kentucky. It supplied more than $2.5 million and significant volunteer support to help restore wild elk to Kentucky beginning in 1997. In total, RMEF and its partners completed 198 in-state conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects with a combined value of more than $18.2 million. These projects conserved or enhanced 64,189 acres of habitat and opened or improved public access to 55,381 acres.
RMEF received a plaque and a framed print (see at bottom of post) acknowledging contributions to the landmark conservation project.
Left to right: KDFWR Director of Wildlife Ben Robinson, RMEF East Mission Lead Steven Dobey, RMEF Regional Habitat Manager – East Will Bowling & KDFWR Commissioner Rich Storm
(Photo credit: Ben Childers & Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources)
