Raising public awareness...
The Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association (WWIA) was founded in 1989 with the purpose of raising public awareness of woodland management issues and the value of our natural resources. Our goal is to provide members with an opportunity t increase their knowledge of proper woodland care through the appreciation of forestry education programs, conservation practices, field trips and indoor lectures.
The Association is composed of private citizens committed to increasing the utilization of local timber resources without degrading the beauty and riches of our forests.
If you care about the woodlands of Pennsylvania, WWIA is for you. We work to enhance the aesthetic, environmental, and economic value of our woodlands. Our programs and field trips give you access to expert advice on how to ensure the health and productivity of our forests for geneations to come.
As the demand for high-quality wood continues to rise, woodland owners will receive unsolicited offers for their trees from timber buyers. Lack of professional knowledge in marketing and selling your timber often results in obtaining only a fraction of the value and may permanently downgrade the quality and quantity of your woodlot. The decision to harvest trees should be based on the management plan developed according to the landowner's long-term objectives. Woodland management programs provide a means for limited resources to be used in the most productive and environmentally sound way.
Those of you who own forest land control a valuable asset. Although trees are renewable resources, careless logging can upset the forest's delicate balance for many years. Managing our woodlands is an ethical issue that challenges us to look beyond immediate personal needs and leave a living forest legacy to future generations.
