Mulching machinery removed a thick understory of non-native invasive shrubs, providing ample space for regeneration and tree planting in the future.

The Alliance and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Forestry 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 reimburses landowners between 80-100% of the total cost of forest management practices, up to $25,000, for the implementation of activities including invasive plant control, forest stand improvement projects, tree planting, and herbaceous cover seeding. Any non-industrial landowner in Pennsylvania owning at least 10 acres of contiguous forest and no more than 2,500 acres of land total was eligible to apply.

After announcing the launch of the program in September 2025, enough applications were received within just over one month to fully allocate the $4.2 million available to Pennsylvania landowners.

A forest stand improvement practice on this PWREN landowner’s forest removed undesirable and unhealthy trees in the midstory to create a better growing environment for select desirable trees, such as the shag bark hickory in the foreground.

There are currently 135 landowners enrolled in PWREN, owning forest property across 55 counties. 74 landowners qualify as ‘historically underserved’ and have the option of having the Alliance contract with consulting foresters for direct payments. Since the program began, 716 acres have been treated across Pennsylvania, with additional work planned through 2028.

In this PWREN landowner’s forest, a thick understory of Japanese barbery and multiflora rose prevents regeneration of the understory. PWREN funded this brush management treatment to reduce invasive shrub cover

A second round of enrollments this Fall/Winter will provide opportunities for 42 waitlisted landowners to participate in the PWREN program. The Alliance and PA DCNR are continually seeking new funding opportunities to support additional landowners in the future.

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

Learn more about the Alliance’s Forests efforts