West Virginia Universitys Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (AFHA) project has scheduled its spring stakeholders meeting April 7-8 in Petersburg, W.Va. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Thursdays agenda includes a forest heritage tour of Grant County beginning at the Petersburg Fire Department parking lot at 11 a.m. It will feature the Spring Run Trout Hatchery and Catch and Release Management Area, and a tour of a local forest industry site, Greenland Gap. A public reception will be held at the Southside Depot starting at 7 p.m. There will be light appetizers, a brief discussion of the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area program and demonstrations by local artisans. The reception is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Fridays activities will be held at the Hermitage Inn. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the day will include speakers Julie Fosbender with the Seneca Rocks/Spruce Knob Recreation Area, and Ken Carvell, professor emeritus, WVU Division of Forestry. Interest group break out sessions, a branding report and the AFHA Governing Council Meeting will round out the day. Lunch on Friday is complimentary for those who reserve in advance.

Held bi-annually, the purpose of the AFHA stakeholder meeting is to provide information and updates about recent activities, including education and participation opportunities for local residents.

The AFHA is a regional, grassroots effort to integrate central Appalachian forest history, culture, natural history, products and forestry management into a heritage tourism initiative to promote rural community development. The project is working in 18 counties in the highlands of West Virginia and western Maryland. Counties included in the AFHA include Allegany 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.

Initially supported by a four-year grant from USDA to WVU s Division of Forestry and Extension Service, implementation is based on stakeholder partnerships. The goal of this project is to create a sustainable heritage 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.

For more information about the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area or to receive a complete stakeholders meeting agenda and make reservations, contact Jeremy Morris at 304-293-2941, ext. 2456, or email Jeremy.Morris@mail.wvu.edu .