The cherry, oak and maple hardwoods produced by Pennsylvania’s forests are famous worldwide. The tens of thousands of jobs provided by those forests – jobs in forest products, outdoor recreation and tourism – are renowned.

Less widely recognized, but equally critical, are the impacts on the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians. Our forests filter pollutants from water and air, reduce the severity of floods, lock up carbon dioxide emissions, and provide abundant outdoor recreation.

However, the forests of Pennsylvania are under attack by too many deer, not enough fire, acidic rain and snow, pests, pathogens, poor forestry practices, housing developments, roads, energy transmission corridors and more. Healthy regeneration of forests is rare. Diversity is being lost as economically and ecologically valuable species like oak, hickory and sugar maple are replaced by less valuable species like black birch and red maple. Holes are being cut into the forests, and remaining blocks are disconnected, reducing their value to people and wildlife.

A New Commitment for at least 22 Percent

In the face of that Armageddon, The Nature Conservancy’s scientists have identified 3.6 million acres of Pennsylvania’s forests – about 22 percent – that form an indispensable minimum network of ecologically intact and economically productive forest lands.

Conservation of that 22 percent will sustain all of Pennsylvania’s forest types, and the species that depend on them.

On public lands, we are working with managers to develop the right mix of management zones and forestry practices to conserve and restore different forest types and age classes.

On private lands, we are working with willing owners to implement sustainable forestry practices, and to acquire conservation easements and properties in the most valuable and vulnerable areas.

Throughout the 3.6 million acres, we are working with partners to attack pests and pathogens that threaten the forests.

With partners, we have developed an innovative tool known as Forest Restoration Decision Tool – FoRest for short. Designed to show land managers how to optimize wildlife and income values on working forestlands, it’s being tested at our 3,000-acre West Branch Wilderness Research and Demonstration Forest.

And, over the next five years, the Conservancy will pursue the following science-based strategies:

Forest Science

• Develop conservation plans for priority forest landscapes in the Central Appalachian and High Allegheny ecoregions.
• Establish demonstration sites to further test and develop FoRest.
• Put FoRest, and other science-based tools, in the hands of forest landowners and managers to enable them to evaluate and implement forest restoration that will conserve biodiversity.
• Work with university forestry and ecology programs to further improve FoRest and provide quality forest science internship opportunities.

Working Private Forests

• Protect at least 50,000 acres of working forest.
• Increase working forest lands certified as managed sustainably from today’s 35 percent to at least half.
• Provide Forest Stewardship Council-certified forest management plans.
• Help FSC-certified landowners to tap into ecosystem markets, such as managed forest carbon sequestration credits.
• Develop a regional network of preferred forestry service providers.

Forest Conservation Policy

• Expand public lands dedicated to biodiversity by at least 150,000 acres.
• Improve government policy to encourage thousands of additional private forest owners to implement sustainable forest practices.
• Help the Pennsylvania Invasive Species Council better fight invasive forest pests and pathogens.
• Encourage more use of native species and restricted trade in known invasives or hosts.
• Encourage new developments to locate outside Pennsylvania’s most valuable forest areas.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © George C. Gress/TNC (Sproul Forest at West Branch Wilderness); Photo © George C. Gress/TNC (Autumn colors in Potter County, North Central Highlands); Photo © Charles DeCurtis/TNC (Deer).