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With its rugged beauty, it’s easy to see why people want to own a piece of West Virginia, one of the most forested states in the nation. But owning woodland property can present a range of challenges and choices.

West Virginia University is helping those new forest owners connect with educational and management expertise.

The Woodland Welcome Wagon program, funded by the West Virginia Division of Forestry, is designed to help connect woodland owners with those that can help them establish their ideal woodland, whether they plan to harvest forest resources or maintain the natural environment.

Megan McCuen, a graduate student in WVU’s Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, leads the program. She can easily understand the lure of West Virginia’s forests.

“I’m originally from New York and I earned my undergraduate degree from Michigan State University back in 2007,” she said. “My major then was Communicative Sciences and Disorders. I then came to West Virginia for an AmeriCorps position, which is how I became interested in forestry.”

The Woodland Welcome Wagon project identifies new woodland owners in West Virginia and invites them to take advantage of resources in a couple of different ways. Some opt to receive a packet of informational materials; others may take part in one of several “Meet Your Forester” workshop series held in six counties in West Virginia.