The cooperator will use these funds to actively manage forests for health and productivity while implementing west virginia state forest action plan priorities per statute

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service Region 9–Eastern Region awarded the West Virginia Division of Forestry $498,367 on June 2, 2026, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to actively manage forests for health and productivity while implementing West Virginia State Forest Action Plan priorities.

The recipient will conduct state fire assistance activities focused on critical preparedness needs and hazard mitigation, including maintaining communication systems and fire equipment, training personnel, supporting suppression and investigation efforts, conducting community outreach, and developing community wildfire protection plans. Forest stewardship program activities will provide on-the-ground forestry assistance, education, and management plan development to private landowners, aiming to improve forest management capacity statewide. Deliverables and outcomes include improved emergency response capacity, enhanced public awareness, reduced wildfire risk across hundreds of communities and at-risk areas, and healthier, more sustainably managed forest landscapes benefiting the Monongahela National Forest, private forest landowners, natural resource professionals, and the broader public.

The award is structured as a multi-year project with performance extending from June 2, 2026, through May 26, 2031, to allow time for coordination with local partners, planning, procurement, and implementation of seasonal work that cannot be accomplished within a single year. Work is performed in West Virginia.

Specific state fire assistance activities focused on addressing critical preparedness needs and hazard mitigation will include maintaining communication systems and fire equipment, training personnel, supporting suppression and investigation efforts, conducting community outreach, and developing community wildfire protection plans. Deliverables and outcomes are expected to include improved emergency response capacity, enhanced public awareness, and reduced wildfire risk for hundreds of communities and at risk areas across west virginia. Forest stewardship program activities will be focused on helping private landowners manage their forests sustainably through on the ground forestry assistance, education, and development of management plans. The outcome will be improved forest management capacity and implementation statewide. These efforts benefit the monongahela national forest, private forest landowners, natural resource professionals, and the broader public through healthier, more sustainably managed forest landscapes. This is a multi year project as time is needed to coordinate with local partners. Some activities require longer than a year to plan, procure supplies, and implement, and the seasonal work cannot all be accomplished in a single year.