Northwest Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Project
Pennsylvania's Forests
Pennsylvania's 17 million acres of forests, covering nearly 60% of the state's land area, afford recreational opportunities, provide habitats for rare and endangered animal and plant species, perform a variety of ecosystem functions, and contribute substantially to the state's economy. Pennsylvania is home to the greatest volume of select hardwood species in the country, including maple, black cherry, and red oak. The state's forest products industry is well-developed and valued at over $5 billion per year, employing over 100,000 people in 2,200 firms. 
Timber extraction and agricultural expansion had decimated much of Pennsylvania's forest resource by 1900. Since then, geographic shifts in timber extraction and agriculture have allowed regeneration of forests in much of the state. Today, Pennsylvania's forests are probably in better condition than at any time in the past 150 years - in terms of areal extent, species diversity, and commercial value. Nevertheless, the future health of this resource and its sustainable long-term management hinges on how well state and local officials, environmental scientists, the wood products industry and private landowners can reconcile seemingly opposing goals of economic exploitation of the forests and their conservation for other purposes. Sustainable forest management is further complicated by the fact that nearly 80% of the state's forests are owned and managed by some 500,000 private landowners.
In northwestern Pennsylvania, approximately half of our land area is covered by forests that are once again nearing maturity. As agriculture continues to decline, and as forests recover, the economic and ecological value of forests in this region continue to increase. Indeed, Crawford County itself has 330,000 acres of forestland and 15-20 sawmills in operation. Despite the potential value of its natural resources, NWPA is characterized by high unemployment, de-industrialization, and economic stagnation. Located on the edge of the "Rust Belt," communities in the area are faced with a struggling infrastructure, out-migration of talent, an eroded tax base and, often times, a degraded environment, making their prospects for redevelopment appear daunting. Individual landowners, who are the predominant owners of forestland in the region, often resort to unsustainable land use practices for short-term economic reasons. For these reasons, CEED and the Penn State Extension are working with the Northwest Pennsylvania Woodland Association (NWPWA) to promote economically and environmentally sustainable woodlot management practices.
There is great potential for development in northwestern Pennsylvania. There is a wealth of natural resources and a large workforce. It is a perfect area to begin the process of sustainable forestry and certified wood products. Crawford County consists of 301,800 acres of forest land. The problem for the timber industry, however, is that 245,700 acres are privately owned. Therefore contracts have to be made with each individual landowner creating many problems. In this scenario the consulting forester becomes a vital part of the forestry business. One good aspect of the forests of Northwest Pennsylvania is that they are the home of black cherry and many other valuable hardwoods. Crawford County lies in a portion of the region dubbed as the black cherry capital of the world. Black cherry has great market value, so the future of Crawford County in the hardwood market is very good. Crawford County also has a large population of white and red pine, oak and hickory, and red maple. While the county has a large area of forest land it also has a very high percentage of high grade -- high productivity -- timberlands. As opposed to some areas of the state which have been aggressively forested, Crawford County has a comparatively large amount of high quality stands.
So if we have such high grade wood, what is the problem? In the early days of settlement, Northwest PA was covered with very large, old, white pine, hemlock, and chestnut trees. As the settlers grew more numerous, trees were needed for construction and as a fuel source. When the agriculture business made its rise, the forest began to dwindle. In 1920, 80% of Crawford County was in pastures compared to today where 50% is forest. Crawford County's forests are making a comeback but only with sustainable practices and proper management will they be able to reach their full potential. Practicing sustainable forestry can not only be beneficial to the forests but it can also benefit the people. It can provide them with a long-lasting and dependable source of income.
