LORETTO, Ky. — The University of Kentucky celebrated Earth Day in the Commonwealth by establishing the world's largest repository of American white oak as part of a larger effort to conserve the iconic tree species, the university said in a press release.

UK is partnering with Maker's Mark to "conserve, explore and secure the future of the American white oak." Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker's Mark Distillery, will also be home to the white oak repository.

Kentuckians plant white oak seedlings at Star Hill Farm. (University of Kentucky)

The American white oak repository is part of a larger mission to transform the conservation of a species critical to many American industries, including Kentucky bourbon, and to prioritize the present and future of forests and rivers.

“To do something like this that talks about the sustainability of a tree species, it will take a long time for the work being done here to come to fruition, so it takes a vision and commitment,” said Jeff Stringer, UK Forestry and Natural Resources department chair. “Maker’s Mark understands that. They have seen that vision and understand it and are in it for the long haul. They are willing to put in the effort and resources to make this work. It may take 50, 70, 90 years for any barrels to come from this research and that’s a long-term vision that many companies don’t have these days. Maker’s Mark does.” 

UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources tree improvement specialist Laura DeWald leads the project collecting more than 300 unique families of white oak from across the United States to plant at Star Hill Farm. The first planting took place on April 15, and successive plantings over the next several years will result in the largest single white oak genetic repository in the United States.

"This repository will provide the foundation for research and tree improvement to address current and future threats to white oak trees and the millions of acres of forests they dominate," the university said in a statement. "It will also support white oak-dependent industries that contribute billions of dollars to rural and urban economies across the region."

MM1 has been exposed to incredible climate variations and is estimated to be 300 to 500 years old. (University of Kentucky)

This American white oak repository is the second phase of the UK and Maker’s Mark collaboration, which also includes the world’s first comprehensive effort to map the white oak genome. Working with Maker’s Mark and the cooperage Independent Stave Company, the UK team is studying the genetics of the mother tree, called “MM1” at the Star Hill Farm, which is one of the oldest white oaks in Kentucky.

“We have lost or are fast losing some of our most valuable tree species in the U.S. such as ash, chestnut and elm due to disease and pests,” said Seth DeBolt, director of UK’s James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits. “This collaboration, the combination of the white oak genetic fingerprint and the germplasm planted solely at Star Hill Farm, will allow us to prepare for any future risk to this organism. In simple terms, if a risk arises, we can look for examples of natural variation within the germplasm that can tolerate new pests or even different climates."

Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whiskey producer at Maker’s Mark, said the distillery is committed to the partnership. 

“We’re so honored to work with the experts from UK who share a common passion with our team for ensuring the sustainable future of the American white oak, and we’re excited for Star Hill Farm to be the new home of this essential repository and study, in addition to the home of Maker’s Mark Bourbon,” he said.

The partnership between UK and Maker’s Mark began nearly two years ago as one piece of the Bluegrass bourbon brand’s vision to protect and sustain natural resources by not only supporting the white oak forest, but regenerating forest production with healthy, sustainable and superior trees.