Shared with the permission from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy | Photos courtesy of Jeff London

“Forest management involves a lot of considerations specific to the forest uses and forest type,” explains Matt Marusiak, a land protection manager with the Conservancy. In his role, he protects land in many northern counties of Western Pennsylvania and manages the Conservancy-owned reserves within the region, including Bennett Branch Forest. “At Bennett Branch, we’re ensuring that the forest will continue to provide ecological, social, and economic benefits to the region for years to come.”

Bennett Branch Forest is a 1,500-acre forest reserve within the headwaters of the Susquehanna River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Sharing a border with Moshannon State Forest, Bennett Branch Forest contributes to a larger forested landscape called the Pennsylvania Wilds. This area is an ecotourism hotspot known for its concentration of wildlife such as elk, bear, deer, and rattlesnake and forest biodiversity.

Timber harvests in Bennett Branch Forest, as in other forests in the state, support the wood-products industry, such as furniture, paper and other wood materials. According to a 2018 report from the PA Department of Agriculture, the state’s forest products industry provided $21.6 billion in direct annual economic impact and supported 64,078 jobs for Pennsylvanians in 2018.

Forest management activities on the property are certified as sustainable by the third-party Forest Stewardship Council. Revenue generated by timber harvests are reinvested in the management of Bennett Branch Forest or applied to conserve additional land in Western Pennsylvania.

Matt notes, “When assessing a harvest, we consider what’s present and what is likely to grow in the future and allow less-desirable trees to be removed first. We retain good quality trees for seed source and habitat and foster healthy forest regeneration. The remaining trees benefit a number of wildlife species, and over time, will grow into a mature forest stand.”

For more information on the Pennsylvania Great Outdoors region, go to VisitPAGO.com or call (814) 849-5197.