REGION — On Thursday, October 30, the Northeast Pennsylvania Environmental Partners awarded their 24th annual environmental partnership awards. The Women and Their Woods initiative, led by the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC) with Penn State Renewable Natural Resources Extension, and funding support from the U.S. Forest Service at Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, PA, was the recipient of an Environmental Partnership Award. The awards pay tribute to those organizations and individuals of Northeastern Pennsylvania that have achieved environmental protection or conservation through partnering with others.

Women and Their Woods is a program designed specifically for the needs of the growing number of women forest landowners. The program facilitates networking among these landowners and professionals to cultivate care of healthy forests. Through quarterly newsletters, meetings and workshops, the landowners learn about forest management topics such as forest ecology, tree identification, forest hydrology, wildlife habitat, and silviculture as well as network and learn from professionals and forest landowner mentors.

DHC Stewardship and Education Coordinator Amanda Subjin accepted the award and had this to say: “It would be impossible to coordinate this initiative without the numerous dedicated, creative and conscientious women forest landowners with whom I am fortunate to work. Additionally, I am thankful to all of the professionals and partner organizations who have helped to build a strong network of women forest landowners and resources.”

For more information on the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and the Women and Their Woods initiative, visit www.DelawareHighlands.org/watw or call 570/226-3164.