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ELKINS – For the first time nearly 40 years, the Monongahela National Forest and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have renewed a long-standing partnership.
The two sides recently updated a memorandum of understanding that formalizes a collaborative relationship to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, habitat, and other natural resources across the state of West Virginia.
“For more than six decades, the Forest Service and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have worked side by side to conserve the natural resources that make West Virginia so special,” said Cindy Sandeno, Forest Supervisor for the Monongahela National Forest. "Renewing this agreement honors our long-standing partnership, while giving us a strong framework for tackling the conservation challenges and opportunities ahead of us."
The relationship has existed for more than 60 years, but not since the 1980s has the agreement received a major update. The agreement is for the two sides to continue to cooperate on wildlife and fisheries management, threatened and endangered species, habitat restoration, and other shared natural resource priorities.
“Neither agency can accomplish this work alone,” Sandeno said. “Our forests, streams and wildlife don't recognize administrative boundaries, and neither can we. By working collaboratively, we can accomplish more for West Virginia's natural resources and the communities that depend on them.”
The two agencies will continue to coordinate on fish and wildlife habitat management under the updated agreement as well as threatened, endangered and sensitive species management, and annual work planning.
“Our partnership with the Monongahela National Forest has been an important part of wildlife and fisheries conservation in West Virginia for generations,” said Paul Johansen, Chief of Wildlife for the WVDNR. “This updated agreement allows us to build on that successful history, share expertise, and work together to support the fish and wildlife resources that are so important to West Virginians.”
The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public land and 900 million forested acres in the United States. It provides assistance to state and private landowners, and for more than 100 years has connected people to nature and recreation opportunities.