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“Pennsylvania Perspectives” Allegheny SAF Winter Meeting February 11, 2011 Dan Devlin, State Forester

Conserving Penn’s Woods. “Pennsylvania Perspectives” Allegheny SAF Winter Meeting February 11, 2011 Dan Devlin, State Forester. Pennsylvania’s forest. Translates from Latin to “Penn’s Woods” Forests cover 60 percent of the state (historically 95 percent)

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“Pennsylvania Perspectives” Allegheny SAF Winter Meeting February 11, 2011 Dan Devlin, State Forester

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  1. Conserving Penn’s Woods “Pennsylvania Perspectives” Allegheny SAF Winter Meeting February 11, 2011 Dan Devlin, State Forester

  2. Pennsylvania’s forest • Translates from Latin to “Penn’s Woods” • Forests cover 60 percent of the state (historically 95 percent) • Vital part of our heritage, culture, economy and environment

  3. Our mission … To ensure the long-term health, viability and productivity of the Commonwealth’s forest and to conserve native wild plants.

  4. Mission Bureau of Forestry will accomplish its mission by … • Managing state forests under sound ecosystem management • Retaining their wild character • Maintaining biological diversity • While providing … • pure water • opportunities for low-density recreation • habitats for forest plants and animals • sustained yields of quality timber • environmentally sound utilization of mineral resources.

  5. Mission Bureau of Forestry will accomplish its mission by … Protecting forestlands, public and private, from damage and/or destruction by fires, insects, diseases and other agents.

  6. Mission Bureau of Forestry will accomplish its mission by … Promoting forestry and the knowledge of forestry by advising and assisting other government agencies, communities, landowners, forest industry, and the general public in the wise stewardship and utilization of forest resources.

  7. Mission Bureau of Forestry will accomplish its mission by … Protecting and managing native wild flora resources by determining status, classifying, and conserving native wild plants

  8. Pennsylvania’s forest The “big woods”

  9. Pennsylvania’s forest Rural woodlots and forested ridges

  10. Pennsylvania’s forest The community forest

  11. Pennsylvania’s forestUrban Forests

  12. One forest, two contexts …

  13. Statewide Assessment & Strategy

  14. Background • USFS State & Private Forestry “Redesign” • 2008 Farm Bill requirement • “Statewide Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy” • Completed June 2010

  15. Main Components • All ownerships • Conditions and trends • Priority issues • Priority landscape areas • Long-term strategies • Stakeholder input

  16. Plan Organization Assessment • Benefits & Services • Conditions & Trends • Issues • Landscape Areas Strategy • Long-term (5+ yrs) • Landscape Areas • Stakeholders & collaboration • Measures of success • National Themes

  17. Plan Organization Assessment • Benefits & Services • Conditions & Trends • Issues / Strategies • Landscape Areas Strategy • Long-term (5+ yrs) • Landscape Areas • Stakeholders & collaboration • Measures of success • National Themes

  18. Conditions and Trends • Criteria and Indicators Analysis • Sustainability rating for 18 indicators • Baseline for future assessments • Generated much discussion • www.na.fs.fed.us/ sustainability

  19. Issues & Threats • Land use • Forest health • Forest management • Climate change • Communicating natural resource values • Energy development • Wildland fire and public safety • Plant and animal habitat • Recreation and Quality of Life

  20. Land Use • Statewide forestland base relatively stable • Regional differences • Ownership patterns • Land Development • Energy

  21. Land Use Strategies • Easements and acquisitions • Planning • Regional and municipal • Estate • Revitalize communities • Energy BMPs

  22. Forest Health • Myriad of stressors • Plants, insects, diseases, atmospheric, etc. • Inadequate regeneration • Deer impacts

  23. Forest Health Strategies • Develop IPM plans for destructive agents • Statewide monitoring process • Identify high-risk habitats • Risk Maps • Identify and conserve high-value hemlock landscapes

  24. Forest Management • Regeneration, species composition, structure • Increasing timber volumes • Certification • Carbon / Biomass • Urban forests

  25. Forest Management Strategies • Effective communications and outreach • Engage in county/municipal planning efforts • Promote sustainable forest management

  26. Climate Change • Data suggests climate is changing • Already impacting ecosystems • Increased susceptibility to stressors

  27. Climate Change Strategies • Identify species and communities at risk • Promote forest diversity • Promote urban tree cover

  28. Communicating Natural Resource Values • Increasing disconnect to natural world • Children and nature • Understanding what people care about

  29. Communications Strategies • Interpretive opportunities on state forest lands • Utilize recreational interest to promote forest stewardship • Coordinate messaging of forest values • Enhance web presence • Social media

  30. Energy Development • Marcellus, wind, biomass, rights-of-way • Forest fragmentation • Forest conversion • Wild character • Recreational conflicts & experiences

  31. Energy Development Strategies • Proactive approach • Improved communication with industry • Monitor impacts • Economic, environmental, social • Implement BMPs • Adapt with changing technologies

  32. Wildland Fire and Public Safety • Wildland/Urban Interface expanding • Public awareness • Prescribed fire

  33. Wildfire Strategies • Maintain suppression capacity • Train and equip volunteers • Cooperate with other agencies • Ensure safe use of prescribed fire • standards

  34. Plant and Animal Habitat • PA is a “keystone” state • Habitat loss • Fragmentation

  35. Habitat Strategies • Identify important habitats of species of concern • Develop regional landscape plans • Restore contiguous landscapes

  36. Recreation and Quality of Life • Important values • People do not always see relationship to trees/forests • Increasing conflicts

  37. Recreation Strategies • Visitor Use Monitoring Plan • Enhance partnerships/planning • Preserve backcountry experiences and wild character • Connect quality-of-life to outdoor experiences

  38. Looking at Landscapes • Geographic variation • Issues and opportunities change • “brings people together”

  39. Landscape Approach • Sense of Place / Common issues • People care about where they live & play • “brings people together” – common goals • Northeast Landscape Initiative • www.rpa.org/northeastlandscapes

  40. Statewide AssessmentWhat does this mean for us? • Source of information • Guidance for our work (similar to SFRMP) • Mechanism for project funding • Opportunities for collaboration • Foundation for future efforts • Penn’s Woods, strategic plan

  41. Website www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/farmbill/index.html Link

  42. Conclusions • Forests are sustainable • Facing major issues • Energy development • Ownership patterns • Public disconnect • Landscape Approach

  43. Thank you!

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