What is AFNHA?

The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area (AFNHA) is a grassroots effort to create a sustainable heritage area based on the unifying theme of forest heritage. AFNHA seeks to integrate central Appalachian forest history, culture, natural resources, products and forestry management into a regional heritage tourism initiative to promote economic and community development.

Forest-based historic sites, artisans, manufacturers and working forests are being developed into a network of visitor destinations and local heritage education opportunities that provide high-quality products, programs, experiences, events and services. Initiated by West Virginia University’s Division of Forestry and Extension Service, and continued by a broad-based non-profit organization, AFNHA works in 18 counties of West Virginia and western Maryland.

The Appalachian Forest Heritage Area has outstanding natural resources, and historical and cultural themes of state and national significance. This forest provided resources for American industrial expansion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The lessons learned from cutting these forests contributed significantly to the conservation movement, the formation of eastern National Forests, and rise of modern scientific forestry. This Heritage Area is the core of the central hardwood forest that is today the largest of its kind in the world, hosting an unusual biodiversity of plant and animal species.

The Forest Heritage story can be told through a variety of resources, such as remnants of old growth forests, protected wilderness areas, historic sites from the logging era including the intact logging company town at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, national and state forest lands created to foster regrowth of the forest, CCC structures demonstrating conservation efforts, experimental forests demonstrating the evolution of forestry management, managed public and private forests, and a dynamic forest industry with mills and value-added products that demonstrate the ongoing importance of the forest and forest products to this region.

The central Appalachian culture including folklife, music, dance, crafts, and traditions are inextricably tied to the forest and reliance upon forest products.  The extensive forests and undeveloped rural character of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area provide natural and recreational resources, scenic vistas, outdoor recreation and opportunities for nature observation for people throughout the United States to enjoy.

What needs does AFNHA address?

The Appalachian Forest Heritage Area (AFNHA) seeks a regional solution to the needs for both community economic development and appreciation of the unique cultural heritage of the central Appalachian highlands forest region of western Maryland and West Virginia.

Appalachian communities have been caught in epic struggles between development and environmental forces. These communities are struggling to find their own identities and directions. Nationally, a growing movement has emerged to utilize natural and cultural assets to promote economic development. 

Tourism is the third largest retail industry in America. Heritage tourism, based on travel to experience authentic history and special places, is a significant and growing part of this market.  Tourism based on heritage and other place-based assets represents a promising strategy for economic diversification that is rooted in local traditions.  Many communities have valuable natural and cultural resources at their doorstep, but they lack the expertise to develop these as tourism destinations.  Working in isolation, communities cannot leverage adequate funding for infrastructure development, nor can they create the cohesive experience that will attract tourists to remote areas. Conservation, historic preservation, and heritage development efforts are essential parts of that infrastructure development – developing the sites and stories that visitors will come see and appreciate.

The AFNHA has a rich and complex history of timber harvesting, forest management and the development of forest products, but these stories have not been presented comprehensively. Major strides in forest health, productivity, management, and wood utilization have contributed to a vibrant natural resource-based economy and culture. Unique natural ecosystems offer benefits both for tourism and community residents, yet require ongoing conservation efforts to sustain our forests and our environment. The Appalachian traditions of folkways adapted to the forested mountains are clearly expressed in the AFNHA. Many visitors have little appreciation for the links among forestry practices, rural traditions, conservation, and sustainable economies. 

To the degree that rural communities and local industries take pride in their forest traditions and stewardship, the long-term sustainability of West Virginia and western Maryland’s forest-dependent communities is more secure.  Forest-related heritage tourism can fulfill the need for public education, thus contributing to an understanding of “good forestry.”  Forest-related heritage tourism in West Virginia and western Maryland also fosters economic development consistent with the local traditions and available resources.  Urban visitors already flock to West Virginia and western Maryland for outdoor recreation and heritage tourism opportunities.  This program capitalizes on that trend to meet public education and local economic development needs. Development of place-based tourism opportunities through conservation, historic preservation and heritage development not only encourage economic development from visitors, but also enhance assets that directly benefit local communities and residents.

History of AFNHA development

AFNHA was initially coordinated by a project team from West Virginia University (WVU) and Canaan Valley Institute (CVI), and was funded by a USDA grant to WVU Division of Forestry and Extension Services. Since its inception in October 2001, the AFNHA project has convened in large-group stakeholder meetings and in numerous task group and committee sessions. A broad range of participants representing diverse backgrounds and viewpoints participated to determine the project’s course.  The work of building a unified heritage tourism theme and network across the region goes hand-in-hand with communities committing to local projects. This broad-based grassroots approach helps ensure local community success and balanced direction as the AFNHA moves towards its goals.

A non-profit Governing Council representing communities, interest groups, and involved stakeholders and partners created vision and planned the project. Task groups initiated efforts on a number of fronts: identifying assets, interpretation, business development, communications, marketing, and organization. Three pilot communities –Webster County, WV, Randolph County, WV and Garrett County, MD – helped develop models of how to implement project goals in individual communities. The initial grant was completed by September 2006.

In 2003, AFNHA incorporated as an independent non-profit organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors, with a larger Advisory Council that advises the Board and who represent the various counties and interest groups in AFNHA. AFNHA continues to meet as a group in Stakeholder / Member meetings. Anyone interested in AFNHA is considered a Stakeholder and is encouraged to attend. Individual membership is free, and organizational membership is being expanded and includes all AmeriCorps program sub sponsor sites. Meetings are held in different locations around the area, and often include tours, informational programming, organization updates and meetings. AFNHA also publishes print and email newsletters, Facebook, and website.

AFNHA non-profit has also been supported by capacity building funds from the National Forest Foundation, including a major grant for 2009 – 2011. NFF projects supported capacity building, outreach, collaboration with partner organizations, conservation projects, and volunteerism, with emphasis on projects on or benefiting the Monongahela National Forest.

The AmeriCorps program was a huge leap forward for AFNHA in being able to provide services and work towards fulfilling our goals. Started in 2007-08 with 10 members, AFNHA AmeriCorps has expanded to 40 members for this term.. Members work with sub-sponsor partner organizations on direct service projects related to heritage development, community development, conservation, and historic preservation.

In spring of 2014, AFNHA opened the Appalachian Forest Discovery Center museum and visitor center in the Darden Mill in Elkins. Here visitors learn about forest heritage themes, and about sites they can explore.

AFNHA sought National Heritage Area designation to gain recognition of the significance of our resources, and to help increase our financial resources for forest heritage development. We completed an extensive Feasibility Study that is the first major step of this process, which can be read on our web site. This study includes much more detail on the assets in the AFNHA region, and background of the organization. In 2013, our Senators led by Sen. Jay Rockefeller introduced our National Heritage Area designation bill. Subsequent efforts finally led to passage of Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area designation in March 2019. See Long Road to NHA for more details on this effort.