Officials with West Virginia University’s Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (AFHA) project will report the findings of the Phase I feasibility study at its fall stakeholder meeting Friday, Nov. 21, at the Graceland Conference Center at Davis and Elkins College in Elkins. Phase I of the project investigates options for creating a long-term forest heritage program that will address development and stewardship of forest heritage sites and heritage education in an 18-county region of West Virginia and western Maryland.

During October, Scott Gerloff of Historic Connections LLC and AFHA staff conducted public meetings and focus groups with stakeholders across the project region. Additionally, Gerloff interviewed experts in forest resource history and management as well as directors of heritage tourism and education programs from across the nation to gather input that will help the AFHA decide its future.

The presentation of the Phase I report will take place in the morning session of the fall stakeholders meeting, starting at 10 a.m. Lunch will be served at Graceland. While the meeting is open to the public, reservations are required for lunch. The afternoon will offer an opportunity for stakeholders to voice opinions on the Phase I results and offer guidance for planning Phase II.

Nov. 21 Schedule

  • 9:30 a.m.Introductions
  • 10 a.m.Presentation of Phase I Feasibility Study
  • 12:00 noonLunch at Graceland Conference Center
  • 1 p.m.Stakeholder comments and guidance
  • 3 p.m. AFHA Governing Council meeting

Phase II of the feasibility study will include further engagement of the public. AFHA staff will conduct public meetings in the proposed region and will meet with key public officials and citizen organizations to discuss how the project can best assist their communities. Counties included in the AFHA include Allegheny and Garrett in western Maryland, and Barbour, Braxton, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Morgan, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur and Webster in West Virginia.

The AFHA is a regional, grassroots effort to integrate central Appalachian forest history, culture, natural history, products and forestry management into a multi-state heritage tourism initiative to promote rural community development. Initially supported by a four-year grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to the WVU Division of Forestry and Extension Service, implementation is based on stakeholder partnerships. The goal of this project is to create a sustainable tourism area based on the unified theme of forest heritage. Existing and potential forest-based historic sites, artisans, manufacturers, and working forests are being developed into a network of tourist destinations that provide high-quality products, programs, educational experiences, events and visitor services. The Phase I feasibility study was funded in part by a grant from the WVU Tech EDA University Center.

For more information on the AFHA or to make a reservation for the Nov. 21 meeting, contact Jeremy S. Morris, program coordinator, at 304-293-294 ext.2456, or via e-mail at jeremy.morris@mail.wvu.edu .