{"id":793548,"date":"2023-11-22T08:52:59","date_gmt":"2023-11-22T13:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forests.org\/?p=793548"},"modified":"2023-11-22T08:52:59","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T13:52:59","slug":"wva-grant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forests.org\/fr\/wva-grant\/","title":{"rendered":"SFI Celebrates Expansion of Grant Enhancing West Virginia Forest Bird Habitat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, D.C. and Ottawa, ON<\/strong> \u2014 The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is pleased to announce a grant award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to continue and expand work focused on three at-risk bird species: the Golden-winged Warbler, the Cerulean Warbler, and the Wood Thrush in the central Appalachian region of West Virginia. This award builds on the work of a previous NFWF grant<\/a>, awarded in 2021, by expanding the geographic footprint of the study \u00a060% (from 15,000 acres to 24,100 acres) with the inclusion of three new forest landowners and by adding two additional engagement partners. This new award, spanning from 2024 to 2028, will expand the collection of crucial occupancy and abundance data for the three imperiled bird species while ensuring the efficient transfer of knowledge and dissemination of findings amongst industrial and family forest owners, government agencies, and the general public.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

SFI will build on previous success with partners Weyerhaeuser (an SFI-certified organization), American Bird Conservancy, Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), West Virginia University, and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources by adding new landowner partners Lyme Timber Company<\/a> (SFI-certified), Timberland Investment Resources<\/a> (SFI-certified), and the Conservation Fund.<\/a> New engagement partner organizations include the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc.<\/a> (NCASI) and the National Alliance of Forest<\/a> Owners (NAFO). Together, partners will expand engagement and outreach efforts about sustainable forest management practices to help forest owners better understand and enhance the habitat necessary for the survival of these at-risk birds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis grant continues our important work in the Central Appalachian region, reflecting our applied approach to planning and implementation of sustainable forestry practices. We will work with partners to advance research results to support additional landowners in making decisions that benefit sensitive bird habitats. For certified organizations, the findings are directly applicable to the interpretation of the landscape biodiversity requirements under SFI certification. The project\u2019s research and engagement is central to the SFI mission to advance sustainable practices on SFI-certified forestlands throughout the U.S. and Canada,\u201d shared Lauren Cooper, Chief Conservation Officer at SFI.<\/p>\n

Key outcomes of this project include expanding occupancy and abundance data collection for all species to potentially six additional counties in West Virginia, with particular emphasis on encountering cerulean warblers. Additionally, for each of the three species, the aim is:<\/p>\n