Improving the Health and Resilience of Our Forests

The Alliance and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) are collaborating to provide funding assistance to forest landowners in Pennsylvania who implement management activities that improve the health and resilience of their forests.

The Pennsylvania Woodland Resilience Enhancement Network (PWREN) program cost-shares forest practice-plan writing and the implementation of management practices meant to improve the health, resilience, and value of forest land. It is administered jointly by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the PA DCNR, Bureau of Forestry.

Who is Eligible for PWREN?

Any non-industrial landowner in Pennsylvania owning at least 10 acres of contiguous forest and no more than 2,500 acres of land total.

How does the cost-share work?

Landowners are reimbursed between 80-100% of the total cost of forest management practices, up to $25,000. The percent reimbursement is based on the following:

• 100% for Historically Underserved Landowners* defined as one of the following:
  • Veterans discharged in the last 10 years,
  • owned their woods for less than 10 years,
  • members of a federally-recognized tribe,
  • owners of forestland in a high-poverty area, or
  • those who self-identify as a limited-resource producer (USDA tool used to assess #4 and #5)
• 90% for landowners currently in or who agree to join a Woodland Stewardship Network
• 80% for individual landowners who do not meet the other criteria

* For HU Landowners, payments are provided directly to the Technical Service Provider performing forest management work

What activities does the cost-share cover?

Invasive species management is one of many practices covered by the PWREN program. Photo credit: PennState Extension

In addition to covering the cost of writing a practice plan, the following broad categories of management practices within or adjacent to existing woodlands are covered:

• Brush management
• Crop tree release
• Invasive pest treatments
• Forest stand improvement
• Supplemental tree/shrub planting
• Herbaceous weed control
• Forest farming establishment
• Herbaceous cover seeding
• Agroforestry plantings

How does the Program work?

Landowners work with the DCNR Service Forester in their county to determine what forest restoration practices are needed and fill out an application. Landowners enter into a Landowner Agreement with the Alliance, and our PWREN Project Coordinator will assist with finding an approved Technical Service Provider to develop a plan and work on your property. Landowners submit receipts to the PWREN project coordinator to receive a cost reimbursement check. To begin the process, contact your county Service Forester to discuss your eligibility and add your name to the PWREN interest list. *The PWREN program currently has a waitlist of landowners, due to demand.

Healthy forests help achieve the Alliance’s goal of clean water for all who live in the watershed.

For more information, please contact Kimberly Bohn, Forests Projects Specialist with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay at kbohn@allianceforthebay.org.

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