Concept

MeadWestvaco's Wildlife and Ecosytem Research Forest is a relatively undisturbed forest area of contiguous MeadWestvaco ownership. The acreage is sufficient to represent ecosystem level conditions making it particularluy suitable for habitat manipulation research. Factors that were considered in designinating the site include the existing vegetative complex, cutting history, lack of significant external environmental influence, watershed integrity, and diversity of flora and fauna.

MeadWestvaco has formed a Research Steering Committee composed of representatives from the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, The Nature Conservancy, the National Wild Turkey Federation,the Ruffed Grouse Society, the United States Forest Service's Northeast Research Station,West Virginia University, Virginia Tech,West Virginia Department of Natural Resources,and MeadWestvaco Corporation. The Steering Committee solicits, reviews, and recommends research proposals for the study area. It may also facilitate acquisition of grants to help fund such research.

MeadWestvaco's ten-year plan for forest management and harvesting on the Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest provides a context in which to consider research proposals. The plan can be modified if necessary to accommodate approved research projects.

Research involving ecosystem sustainability and maintenance of biological diversity mandates establishment of an orderly biological inventory. Initial baseline biological and geographic information is part of MeadWestvaco's Forest ResourcesInformation System. Further baseline data collected prior to manipulation of the vegetation complex is also being incorporated into the FRIS. This information will be made available to future researchers to facilitate studies.

Oversight authority regarding research projects recommended by the Steering Committee rests with MeadWestvaco. Where appropriate, acceptance of proposals will be conditional upon the agreement of the researchers to prepare one or more reports or articles related to the study which would be suitable forpublication in a peer-reviewed or popular journal.