WVFA Mountain State Forestry Winter 2021-22

F E A T U R E D N E W S www.wvfa.org Winter 2021–22 | West Virginia Forestry Association Mountain State Forestry 11 AFNHA currently operates an extensive AmeriCorps program in the 16 West Virginia counties in the National Heritage Area. Members provide a year of service, allowing an individual to benefit local communities and landscapes while gaining professional development and strengthening their own skills. AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance stipend plus an education award upon completion. AFNHA partners with numerous organizations in local communities to improve and enhance tourism products. Through a partnership with Eastern Community and Technical College and support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the Highlands Creative Economy regional project will develop and implement tourism enhancements for sites and attractions and help to recover from pandemic impacts. This project will result in enhanced tourism products, services, and experiences for customers or visitors. The program is designed to complement existing efforts while exploring new opportunities for supporting tourism and creative economy growth. AFNHA also serves as the fiscal sponsor for the Monongahela Outdoor Volunteers (MOV), an organization that works to help communities in and around the Gauley District of the Monongahela National Forest transition to trails-based recreational tourism economies. The group is currently working under a 2020 ARC POWER Technical Assistance Grant to create a plan for a volunteer trail maintenance center that has the capacity to restore, expand, and maintain the extensive trail infrastructure within the district through volunteer programs that additionally help residents develop skills for work in the outdoor industry. Finally, through partnerships and outreach, AFNHA seeks to establish a network of existing and new pollinator habitats to support populations of pollinator species throughout the Appalachian Forest region. We do this by having local communities and organizations sign a Pollinator Pledge and Initiative. Due to the severity of declines in pollinator species abundance, it is critical to expand efforts and take new steps to reverse local pollinator losses, restore populations, and improve habitats. This is particularly important in the Appalachian Forest region. Due to a lack of historical data on the abundance of pollinator species in this region, there are many species that may be in decline that scientists and researchers are unaware of. This is especially concerning because the unique topography and biodiversity of high number of ecotypes in the Appalachian Forest region indicates a wide range of pollinator species in the area, many of which are undocumented. For more about AFNHA or to visit see www.appalachianforestnha.org . To get involved or learn more contact our staff at afnha@afnha.org or 304-636- 6182. AFNHA looks forward to a vibrant future for 18-county National Heritage Area conserving and promoting forest heritage in the highlands of West Virginia and Maryland.