West Virginia Universitys Appalachian Hardwood Center will partner with the Woodland Owners Association of West Virginia Inc. and the West Virginia Division of Forestry to present a series of woodland owner workshops.

These meetings are set up to provide current and relevant information, and to foster interactions and networking among private woodland owners,said David McGill, Forest Resources Extension Specialist and Associate Professor of Forest Resource Management in the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences.

The meetings are forpeople who are interested in how forests and woodlots can be managed to achieve a variety of landowner objectivesMcGill said. Anyone interested is welcome to register.

Two meetings are scheduled thus far. A Western Region session will be held from 8 a.m.- noon Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Harrison County 4-H Center in Clarksburg. The morning will include discussion of such topics as wetland resources, recent forest insect problems and private property law enforcement. The afternoon will feature a tour of Hills Tree Farm, hosted by Dave Hill, the 2002 West Virginia Tree Farmer of the Year.

An Eastern Region session will be held from 8:30 a.m.- noon Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Lahmansville United Methodist Church in Lahmansville (near Petersburg). Topics will include environmental and wildlife programs for private landowners, opportunities for Christmas tree growers, and veneer production and marketing. The afternoon will feature tours of the Grant County Mulch Company and MaysTree Farm.

A Southern Region session is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3.

For additional information, registration or session agendas, please contact McGill at 304-293-2941 ext. 2474 or via e-mail at dmcgill@wvu.edu . Pre-registration is required for the sessions. Registration fee is $15 for Woodland Owners Association members and $20 for nonmembers.