CHARLESTON, W.Va. — TheWest Virginia Division of Forestry (WV DOF) today announced the expansion of forest management projects across 322,000 acres of managed land in West Virginia.

Through a public-private partnership with EQT, following guidance from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), WVDOF and Natural Resource Conservation Service Practice Standards, will assist with expanding and improving active conservation management practices across West Virginia.

These activities will include:

• Clean-up and removal of invasive species

• Preventative actions to remove invasive species

• Support for monitoring of fire risk and watershed areas

• Improved forest access to support management

• Wildlife habitat emplacement and improvement

• Native tree and shrub placement

• Abandoned mine land reclamation support

Through this partnership, the WV DOF and WVDNR will have access to increased forest management resources. Additional benefits include improved habitats for wildlife and improved water quality by providing additional natural filters between areas that receive chemical treatments and waterways.