The West Virginia Division of Forestry is announcing a sign-up period for the Forest Stewardship program counties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the state’s eastern panhandle.
The program assists landowners with the management of forest on properties in Grant, Hardy, Morgan, Hampshire, Mineral, Berkeley, Pendleton, and Jefferson counties.
According to a release from the W.Va. Department of Commerce, applications to enlist in the program will be accepted beginning August 10.
Approved applicants will be provided a forester who will establish a management plan for the landowner.
The landowner will be required a hire a consulting forester approved by the division to submit the application to the local division field office
Once approved, the forester will establish and submit a stewardship plan, after which landowners will be reimbursed for 75 percent of the cost of the plan based on the set price of $600 for the plan and $6.50 per acre.
Further information can be found at wvforestry.com/management-assistance/stewardship-program, by contacting the local county service forester, or by calling the division’s Charleston office at 304-558-2788.