Program areas at Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area
AFHA AmeriCorps "Enhancing Assets to Benefit to Benefit Communities deployed 33 National Service members throughout the state West Virginia to support organizations serving within the themes of Conservation, Historic Preservation, and Heritage based Community Development. Members provided over 50,000 hours of service to their sites. Conservation service specifically included activities such as watershed restoration, environmental education, non-native species management, field data collection, tree planting, trail building and maintenance, environmental recreation support, archaelogical support, among others. Community Development members supported organizations such as Mainstreet, welcome centers, municipal boards, and foundations. All service members provided support for volunteer management activities for their sites and added greatly the volunteer capacity and output of their specific organizations. AC members managed over 250 unique volunteers for their sponsoring sites in 2022, increasing capacity for their site. Members provided direct service resulting in the improvement of public lands.
AFNHA' Nationatioal Heritage Partnership Program completed its Management Planning for our National Heritage Area designation and submitted it for approval to the National Park Service for approval.
AFHA Discovery Visitor Center hosted interpretive displays showcasing the Appalachian Fotrest Heritage Area's diverse natural and cultural assets. Visitors are able to take a tour of what the area has to offer within the Discovering AFHA display area, and learn about the history of public land in our rotating exhibit space.
Other program services in 2022 included the Highlands Creative Economy program supporting tourism related activities within our region, fiscal sponsorship of the Mon Outdoor Volunteers program providing volunteer training and recruitment for environmental stewardship and trail development, and the creation of the Appalachian Forest Volunteers program to connect organizations and volunteers in our region.