Sustainable Pennsylvania Forests: A Deep Dive into Preservation and Growth

Jonathan Geyer, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Hardwoods Development Council, emphasizes the importance of sustainable forestry: “Keeping forests as forests is crucial. Sustainable forestry ensures that forests will remain for future generations by allowing young trees to grow. Trees need sunlight, space, and water to thrive. A dense canopy can block sunlight from reaching the forest floor, so we open the canopy to allow young trees to grow. Sustainable forestry involves harvesting mature trees and allowing new ones to grow in their place.”

When Europeans first explored the eastern shores of North America, more than 90% of Pennsylvania’s 29 million acres were covered in trees. The state’s moderate climate, abundant rainfall, and rich soils fostered dense forests teeming with plants and animals unknown in Europe. These forests provided lumber for building homes, fueled the iron industry, and supported the expansion of railroads.

By 1900, Pennsylvania had lost more than 60% of its forests. However, restoration efforts have been successful. Today, Pennsylvania’s hardwood industry is worth $28 billion annually, making the state the leading producer of hardwoods in the country.

Jonathan Geyer highlights the environmental benefits of using wood: “Using wood is one of the best things you can do for the environment, especially when it’s sustainably managed. Trees perform photosynthesis, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. The carbon is stored in the wood, so anything made of wood stores carbon. Sustainable forestry allows new trees to grow, which absorb carbon at a faster rate than older trees. Using wood from sustainably managed forests helps keep carbon out of the atmosphere.”

Geyer also discusses the impact of climate change on Pennsylvania’s forests: “Our forests are maturing, and older trees are more susceptible to threats like invasive species and climate change. To make our forests more resilient, we need to remove some older trees and allow the forest to regenerate. We may see a shift in species, with southern species becoming more common. The Eastern Hemlock, Pennsylvania’s state tree, is threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid, an invasive insect that thrives in milder winters. As our winters become less severe, we risk losing the Eastern Hemlock.”