WVFA Mountain State Forestry Summer 2021

T R E E F A R M N E W S 20 West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry | Summer 2021 www.wvfa.org Specifics in West Virginia Beginning this summer, the Family Forest Carbon Program will open enrollment to landowners with 30 to 2,400 acres in counties in the upper half of the state only. The program will continue to expand into West Virginia over the next year. Landowners can log on to familyforestcarbon.org to see if their property is eligible. The program will offer landowners 10- to 20-year contracts, with installment payments to implement geographically specific forestry practices that increase sequestration and storage of carbon, while also improving the health of the forest. Specifically, landowners can participate in enhancing future forests and growing mature forests. Enhancing Future Forests This practice promotes robust successful regeneration of new forests by having the landowner reduce competing vegetation following or preceding a regeneration harvest. This will allow quality trees to have the space, sunlight, and water needed to grow. Growing Mature Forests This practice promotes the growth of larger, higher quality trees by limiting harvesting over a 20- year contract period, in line with the landowner’s management plan. This practice will not prevent landowners from harvesting completely but is intended to prevent high-grading by setting limits on the size and quantity of trees allowed to be removed.