This agreement supports the management and conservation of a heritage area while engaging the community

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc. a Cooperative Agreement totaling $1,000,069.90 under the Heritage Partnership Program (CFDA 15.939) effective September 3, 2025, with completion targeted for September 30, 2027. This award supports comprehensive management and conservation activities for the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area while advancing community engagement and environmental stewardship. Key deliverables include funding for land stewardship projects, planning initiatives for America's 250th Anniversary, and native landscape restoration efforts. The organization will develop storytelling programs in collaboration with local educational institutions, manage operations of the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center, provide training and support for volunteer stewardship groups, and facilitate communication among community partners to strengthen collaborative conservation efforts across the Appalachian region.

This Cooperative Agreement aligns with the Heritage Partnership Program's core mission to preserve nationally significant cultural, historical, scenic, and natural resources while building resource stewardship ethics among public and private participants. The award enables Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc., a West Virginia-based nonprofit with an established track record of Heritage Partnership Program funding since 2008, to implement heritage area management activities that benefit both the general public and regional stakeholders across multiple rural counties in the Appalachian region.

Key activities include funding projects that promote land stewardship, planning for americas 250TH anniversary, and restoring native landscapes. The initiative also involves developing storytelling programs in collaboration with local educational institutions and managing the appalachian forest discovery center. The project offers training and support for volunteer groups and facilitates communication among community partners.