Evaluating the Rural/Urban Divide in Conservation: Methods of Improvement in Conservation Programming Across Kentucky
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Earth and Environmental Sciences/Geology
Minor
Nonprofit Leadership Studies
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Mrs. Emily Johnson
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Kentucky’s lands and waterways have always defined the state. Our unique karst landscape, combined with the Appalachian Mountains and Ohio River help characterize the state and its identity. However, across Kentucky conservation efforts within recent years have been under attack. Through legislation changes and policy challenges, various bills have sought to repeal Kentucky’s conservation efforts regarding water, soil, and land use. Furthermore, there has been a rise in environmental disasters within the state that cause long term issues for both rural and urban communities to contend with. The responsibility of land stewardship falls on a variety of entities, but weighs heaviest on our conservation districts. Conservation districts within the state of Kentucky are responsible for fostering proper land stewardship within their communities. They are tasked with creating education programs to a variety of ages and providing resources to the community about the environment around them.
However, not all conservation districts within the state may not be able to operate at the level they need to operate at. Rural and urban dynamics can create barriers between resources, and possibly inhibit certain organizations from being able to fulfill their duties. This study seeks to give a comparative analysis of the programs/services offered across the state of Kentucky by their conservation districts to get a proper contrast of the rural/urban divide within environmental conservation efforts offered primarily by government entities. Through this analysis, a proposition for how to properly execute successful urban programs on a rural scale will be constructed, as well as highlight the deficiencies our rural areas face as a call to action to better serve these communities on the front lines of climatic environmental issues.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Evaluating the Rural/Urban Divide in Conservation: Methods of Improvement in Conservation Programming Across Kentucky
Kentucky’s lands and waterways have always defined the state. Our unique karst landscape, combined with the Appalachian Mountains and Ohio River help characterize the state and its identity. However, across Kentucky conservation efforts within recent years have been under attack. Through legislation changes and policy challenges, various bills have sought to repeal Kentucky’s conservation efforts regarding water, soil, and land use. Furthermore, there has been a rise in environmental disasters within the state that cause long term issues for both rural and urban communities to contend with. The responsibility of land stewardship falls on a variety of entities, but weighs heaviest on our conservation districts. Conservation districts within the state of Kentucky are responsible for fostering proper land stewardship within their communities. They are tasked with creating education programs to a variety of ages and providing resources to the community about the environment around them.
However, not all conservation districts within the state may not be able to operate at the level they need to operate at. Rural and urban dynamics can create barriers between resources, and possibly inhibit certain organizations from being able to fulfill their duties. This study seeks to give a comparative analysis of the programs/services offered across the state of Kentucky by their conservation districts to get a proper contrast of the rural/urban divide within environmental conservation efforts offered primarily by government entities. Through this analysis, a proposition for how to properly execute successful urban programs on a rural scale will be constructed, as well as highlight the deficiencies our rural areas face as a call to action to better serve these communities on the front lines of climatic environmental issues.