The History and Management of Pennsylvania Forests

 

TO:  Woodland Owners

SUBJECT:  March 17, 2016 Cumberland Woodland Owners Association, 7:00 P.M. at West Pennsboro Township Municipal Building located at 2150 Newville Road (Rt. 641), Carlisle, PA, 17015

THE FEATURED SPEAKER:  Dr. James Finley, Penn State Professor of Forest Resources. 

TOPIC:  The History and Management of Pennsylvania Forests:  How Pennsylvania’s forest resources were used in the past, how they are managed today and the management needed to ensure that we have healthy forest for the future are the topics.

LOCATION:  West Pennsboro Township Municipal Building located at 2150 Newville Road (Rt. 641), Carlisle, PA, 17015.  The meeting is open to the public.  You do not have to be a member and there is no cost to attend. 

DIRECTIONS:  Directions are available on-line at: http://www.westpennsborotwp.org/contact

The History and Management of Pennsylvania Forests

The forests in Pennsylvania provide a vast array of benefits including hardwood production, wildlife habitat, water protection and recreation.  About 60% (17 million acres) of Pennsylvania is forested. Individuals and families own about 75% of the forested land and provide 80% of Pennsylvania's timber products.  Pennsylvania also has one of the largest expanses of public forestland in the eastern United States.  How Pennsylvania’s forest resources were used in the past, how they are managed today and the management needed to ensure that we have healthy forests for the future are the topics for the March 17^th meeting of the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association.  The featured speaker will be Dr. James Finley, Penn State Professor of Forest Resources.  The Cumberland Woodland Owners’ Association and West Pennsboro Township are sponsoring the meeting which will be held at 7:00 P.M. at the West Pennsboro Township Municipal Building located at 2150 Newville Road (Rt. 641), Carlisle, PA, 17015.  You do not have to be a member to attend and there is no cost to attend.  Directions are available on-line at: http://www.westpennsborotwp.org/contact.

Our forests are not without problems. The lack of forest regeneration, particularly of some oak species, and a decrease in native biodiversity, caused in part by high populations of white-tailed deer, are significant concerns. The introduction of certain invasive plants threatens the existence of native plant species. Outbreaks of exotic pests such as the gypsy moth and a host of native defoliators continue to stress the forests.  Fragmentation of forestland is of concern.  The transition of ownership of forest land from one generation to the next can be a major issue for families.

To meet the ever-increasing demand on Pennsylvania’s forest resources, we must manage our forests differently than in the past to keep them healthy and productive for the long term—an idea known as forest sustainability.  Good forestry requires concern for and understanding of the effects of our decisions and actions on the well-being of the entire forest ecosystem. We can avoid serious degradation of the forest when knowledgeable landowners and natural resources professionals plan and work together. 

The Cumberland Woodland Owners Association is an organization of forestland owners and others interested in forestry issues in south central Pennsylvania.  For more information about the meeting or the Cumberland Woodland Owners Association, contact Fred Peabody at 717/776-3565 (email: fredp5@earthlink.net) or Mike Waldron, 717-677-7317 (email:  mdwald57@yahoo.com).

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