By Blake Jackson
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has reached a significant milestone in state forest management, with 1 billion board feet of timber sustainably harvested from public forestlands since 2004. The achievement was recognized at the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Potter County.
“One billion board feet of sustainably harvested timber is enough to circle the Earth about 8 times — that is a lot of lumber!. It is an important milestone for Pennsylvania and a testament to the Bureau of Forestry’s long-term commitment to responsible forest management. We can be proud of this achievement while recognizing that our work continues," said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
"We have a responsibility to balance timber production with protecting forest health, wildlife habitat, water resources, and public access so Pennsylvania’s forests remain healthy and productive for generations to come.”
In 2004, DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry introduced a Harvest Allocation Model to guide timber production on state forestlands over the long term. The framework helps ensure harvesting remains within sustainable limits while supporting the broader objectives outlined in Pennsylvania’s State Forest Resource Management Plan.
The agency’s Forests for All – A Plan for Pennsylvania’s Forests and People also establishes priorities for maintaining resilient forests, encouraging public involvement and conserving forest resources for future generations.
Sustainable timber harvesting contributes to Pennsylvania’s forest products industry while helping officials manage forest health, preserve wildlife habitats, and maintain the productivity of public lands.
“This accomplishment represents a powerful demonstration of the Bureau of Forestry’s work as a team managing public resources,” said State Forester Seth Cassell, who is the director of the Bureau of Forestry.
“The collaborative work to manage 2.2 million acres of state forestlands to provide more than $20 million on timber revenues annually, while managing forest health, public safety, and offering top notch recreational opportunities is a result of a lot of collaborative work and commitment to our mission to maintain Penn’s Woods for present and future generations.”
Pennsylvania’s modern forestry practices emerged after extensive logging severely reduced the state’s forest cover. By 1900, more than 60% of Pennsylvania’s forests had been lost, leaving widespread stumps, exposed hillsides and damaged landscapes.
The Commonwealth established its forestry agency in 1895 to combat wildfires and restore land affected by logging and burning.
Forestry pioneers, including Dr. Joseph Rothrock, known as the “Father of Forestry in Pennsylvania,” and Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service and later Pennsylvania’s governor, helped advance reforestation, land conservation and public education.
Today, these principles continue to guide the management of Pennsylvania’s 2.2 million acres of state forestland, balancing timber production with environmental protection, recreation and long-term resource conservation.
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Government & Policy