Interview with Marc Evans, July 19, 2001

Partial Transcript: It's July 19th, 2001. I'm speaking with Marc Evans.

Segment Synopsis: Marc Evans introduces himself and discusses his family. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois and studied botany in college. His parents supported his interest in the outdoors.

Keywords: Biodiversity; Botany; Forests; Kentucky; Nature; Outdoors

Subjects: Chicago (Ill.); Education, Higher; Families.

Partial Transcript: Um, would you tell us what it was that drew you to Kentucky?

Segment Synopsis: Evans explains that he went to college In Carbondale, very near western Kentucky, and a job drew him into the state. He describes some places in Kentucky that are special to him.

Keywords: Bowling Green (Ky.); Cactus; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Habitats; Kentucky; Natural areas inventories; Nature preserves; Prairies; Protection; Restoration

Subjects: Carbondale (Ill.); Education, Higher; Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Natural areas; Southern Illinois University

Partial Transcript: Some of the most unique--one of my favorite places is called Flat Rock Glade.

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about one of his favorite places, Flat Rock Glade. He talks about finding rare plants there. He talks about Axe Lake Swamp, a Cyprus swamp. He talks about trying to protect the swamp. He describes Three Ponds in Hickman County, Kentucky. He talks about a place in Lewis County with unusual flora and fauna for Kentucky. He talks about places where bluegrass grows. He talks about the trees that grow in Griffith Woods and why it has been so well-preserved.

Keywords: Animals; Axe Lake Swamp (Ky.); Botany; Cactus; Flat Rock Glade (Ky.); Forest and landscape research; Forests; Griffith Woods (Ky.); Marshes; Nature preserves; Plants; Savannah; Scorpions; Swamps; Three Ponds (Ky.); Wildlife; Woodlands; Woods

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Natural areas

Partial Transcript: Uh, let's see. One part of the, the state that I don't think you've mentioned so much is, uh, the Cumberland Plateau.

Segment Synopsis: Evans discusses the Cumberland Plateau and the species diversity of the area, both plants and animals.

Keywords: Animals; Bogs; Cliffs; Cumberland Plateau (Ky.); Forest and landscape research; Forests; Natural Bridge State Park (Ky.); Orchids; Plants; Pulaski County (Ky.); Rock shelters; State nature preserves; State parks; Wildlife

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas; Wildlife conservation.; Wildlife management.

Partial Transcript: In 1992, one of the places that you were, uh, inventorying was over in Harlan County.

Segment Synopsis: Evans discusses the ecological diversity that he found in what he refers to as "mountain counties," particularly Blanton Forest and his excitement over discovering the old growth forest. He explains his efforts to protect Blanton Forest.

Keywords: Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests; Blanton Forest (Ky.); Coal mining; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Habitats; Harlan County (Ky.); Mountains; Old growth forests; Pine Mountain

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas

Partial Transcript: But then came the hard part, and that was trying to protect it.

Segment Synopsis: Evans discusses finding the land owners of Blanton Forest and how to ensure it remains preserved.

Keywords: Blanton Forest (Ky.); Conservation; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Fundraising; Grover Blanton; Harlan County (Ky.); Logging; Preservation; Public/private partnerships

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas

Partial Transcript: Tell us a little bit more about some of those plants and animals in addition to the huge trees...

Segment Synopsis: Evans describes the size of Blanton Forest and the rare plants and animals that he helped discover in the area.

Keywords: Blackside dace; Blanton Forest (Ky.); Boulders; Creeks; Fish; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Harlan County (Ky.); Knobby Rock (Ky.); Mountains; Old growth forests; Pollution; Rock formations; Sand Cave (Ky.); Streams; Watts Creek (Ky.); Wildflowers

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas; Wildlife conservation.; Wildlife management.

Partial Transcript: I've got lots of stories about Knobby Rock about snakes jumping off the rock.

Segment Synopsis: Evans tells a story about witnessing snakes disappearing off of a cliff on one of his first visits to Knobby Rock.

Keywords: Black racers; Black rattlesnakes; Cliffs; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Knobby Rock (Ky.); Snakes

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas; Wildlife conservation.; Wildlife management.

Partial Transcript: Let me ask you one more question about the, uh, the big caves and, and knowing that the Native Americans were there maybe eight thousand years ago seeing basically the same thing you did today.

Segment Synopsis: Evans talks about Native Americans' uses for various plants, particularly for medicinal purposes.

Keywords: American Indians; Animals; Bark; Caves; Extinction; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Indian cucumber root; Jack in the pulpit; Native Americans; Plants

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas; Traditional medicine

Partial Transcript: Do you want to tell us some of those other--we can close with that, maybe.

Segment Synopsis: Evans discusses the value of preserving places like Blanton Forest.

Keywords: Animals; Biodiversity; Blanton Forest (Ky.); Conservation; Ecosystems; Environmentalists; Forest and landscape research; Forests; Genetic diversity; Medicinal plants; Nature; Plants; Preservation; Protection; Wildlife

Subjects: Environmental education.; Environmental protection; Environmentalism; Habitat (Ecology); Land use, Rural--Kentucky; Natural areas; Wildlife conservation.; Wildlife management.