Overview

MeadWestvaco's Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest is located on 8,430 acres of company owned property in Randolph County, West Virginia. The primary focus of the forest is the conduct of scientific investigations into the impacts of forest management and harvesting on wildlife and other ecosystem elements.

The forest is unique for several reasons:

• It is the first of its kind in the United States.

• It has a relatively low level of past disturbance.

• It currently supports a wide variety of game and non-game wildlife species.

• Its size affords the opportunity to conduct research on a landscape-scale forest area.

• It is privately owned and can accommodate research of a nature and scope which cannot typically be established on public lands.

• MeadWestvaco ownership provides excellent control of access and watershed activities.

• Commercial forest management activities are being conducted on the basis of a ten-year management plan.

• Research steering committee of scientists reviews, recommends and approves research proposals.

• MeadWestvaco's commitment allows for long term research.