Pennsylvania Woodland Resilience Enhancement Network (PWREN)

How it works

PWREN helps woodland owners pay for work that improves the health, resilience, and value of their forests. It is a reimbursement program: the landowner completes approved work first, then submits receipts and documentation to the PWREN project coordinator for review. After the paperwork is approved, the homeowner receives a reimbursement check.

What the money covers

The page says PWREN can help cover the cost of creating a forest management or practice plan and carrying out approved practices on the property. Covered activities listed on the page include:

• Managing brush or weeds
• Improving forest stands
• Releasing crop trees so the best trees can grow
• Treating invasive pests
• Planting extra trees or shrubs
• Forest farming projects
• Seeding herbaceous cover
• Agroforestry plantings, up to $5,000, and not as the first reimbursed practice

Amounts and matching

PWREN reimburses 80%–100% of approved practice costs, up to $25,000.

• 100% for Historically Underserved Landowners:
  • Veterans discharged in the last 10 years
  • Landowners who have owned their woods for less than 10 years
  • Members of federally recognized tribes
  • Landowners in high-poverty areas
  • Landowners who self-identify as limited-resource producers, using USDA tools
• 90% for landowners in or joining a Woodland Stewardship Network
• 80% for all other eligible landowners

For Historically Underserved Landowners, payments go directly to the approved forestry professional doing the work.

How to apply

1. Contact your County Service Forester. The forester visits the property, walks the woods with you, and helps start the application.
2. The application is reviewed to confirm eligibility.
3. If approved, a PWREN project coordinator helps you sign a simple landowner agreement.
4. The coordinator helps connect you with a Technical Service Provider or Consulting Forester.
5. The forestry professional writes the practice plan and completes the approved work.
6. After the work is finished, send receipts and documentation to the PWREN project coordinator.
7. Receive reimbursement after the paperwork is approved.

Timing and deadlines

The county enrollment status page on the official site shows every county currently listed as waitlisting, which means new applicants are not being accepted there at this time. The page says the county map and list are updated by county status, including open, historically underserved only, or waitlisted.