DCNR Unveils New Plan To Connect People To Pennsylvania’s Forests And More Outdoor Recreation Opportunities

On March 21, the International Day of Forests, a day dedicated to recognizing the essential role forests play in sustaining life on Earth, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is launching a new plan to ensure the state’s forests remain healthy, accessible, and resilient for future generations.

DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Pennsylvania State Forester Seth Cassell unveiled Forests for All – A Plan for Pennsylvania’s Forests and People, a forward-thinking strategy to protect, enhance, and connect Pennsylvanians to the state’s 17 million acres of forests.

“Our forests provide all Pennsylvanians with so many values—including clean air and water, jobs, wood products, and outdoor recreation opportunities that support our economy and more,” said Secretary Dunn. “It’s important that we anticipate and respond to potential opportunities and challenges and use our staff, funding, and resources wisely.”

The plan is a roadmap to ensure Pennsylvanians’ Constitutional right to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment while strengthening forestry management and public engagement all across the Commonwealth. 

This plan expands upon the foundations laid in the previous plan – Penn’s Woods – Sustaining our Forests – published in 1995. 

Penn’s Woods established strong resource management foundations and opened the gate for better technical assistance to landowners.

“Just as forests evolve and adapt, so must we,” said Cassell, who also serves as DCNR’s Director of the Bureau of Forestry. “This plan reflects our commitment to modern resource management and stronger connections with the people who live, work, and recreate in Pennsylvania’s forests.”

The plan focuses on three key areas:

-- Strengthening the Bureau of Forestry’s Resource Management Foundations – Ensuring forests remain healthy and productive for generations to come.

-- Growing Public and Community Engagement – Expanding efforts to connect Pennsylvanians with forests and the many benefits they provide.

-- Investing in People and Teams – Supporting staff, partnerships, and resources to enhance conservation efforts through workforce development.

Nearly 60 percent of Pennsylvania is forested, with the Bureau of Forestry managing 2.2 million acres of state forest land across 50 counties. 

Staff from the bureau provide guidance and assist private forest owners with planning and management of 12 million acres of private forestlands. 

The bureau is also responsible for:

-- Sustainable timber and resource management

-- Supporting outdoor recreation and ecotourism

-- Protecting clean water and watersheds

-- Wildfire prevention and response

-- Preserving wildlife habitat and biodiversity

-- Conserving native plant communities

Click Here for a copy of the Plan.

International Day Of Forests

DCNR encourages residents, communities, and organizations to get involved on this International Day of Forests. Ways to participate include:

-- Engage with local forestry programs and learn about sustainable land management.

-- Volunteer for conservation projects to help restore and protect Pennsylvania’s forests.

-- Explore Pennsylvania’s state forests and parks — take a hike, plant a tree, or simply enjoy nature.

-- Share your story — post about your connection to forests using #ForestDay on social media.

Click Here for DCNR’s announcement.

Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.

Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.

  For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.

Resource Link:

-- Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group Update: Industrial Shale Gas Development In Tioga State Forest Prioritizes Industry Profit Over Constitutional Mandate To Preserve, Protect State Forest Lands  [PaEN] 

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council To Hear Update On State Budget, Chesapeake Bay Program March 26  [PaEN] 

-- DCNR Grants News: Grants Director Tom Ford Retires; Mapping For Meaningful Outreach; Last Call For Grant Applications

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Ed Newsletter Blooming With Spring Teaching Ideas, Exploring Outdoors, Educator Workshops  [PaEN] 

-- Lancaster Conservancy Now Accepting Applications For Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape Mini-Grants  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Trails Advisory Committee To Hold Public Forums April 10 On Trails In And Around Centre County, Boalsburg, 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. 

-- Warren Times: PA Wilds Ends Wilds Are Working - A Remote Lifestyle Experience Program Having Introduced 27 Remote Workers To Life In PA Wilds 

NewsClips:

-- PennLive Letter: Where Did $100 Million In State Conservation Funds Go? - By Richard Martin, PA Forest Coalition

-- Tribune-Democrat: Long Timeline Ahead To Revitalize Struggling Tree Areas At Flight 93 National Memorial

-- Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County Brush Fires Keep Crews Busy

-- KDKA: Washington County Fire Chiefs Asking People To Avoid Burning Amid Increased Fire Risk

-- WVIA: Maple Farmers Celebrate Nearly 190 Years Of PA Agriculture As Possible State Funding Boost Looms

-- Registration Open!  PA Interfaith Power & Light May 1 to 31 Caring For Every Body Moving Through Nature Bike & Hike

-- Friends Of Drake Well: Registration Open For May 17 Oil Creek 5 & 13 Stacked Trail Races In Crawford County  

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Thursday Public Meeting Will Outline Oliver Mills To Mountain Top D&L Trail Segment Project 

-- Inquirer: An Invitation To Walk 100 Miles Around Perimeter Of Philadelphia Combines Lessons In Ecology, Infrastructure, Civis, History

-- Lehigh Valley’s Wildlands Conservancy Highlights April Educational Programs; Tree Planting; Hikes; Summer Camps 

-- LancasterOnline: 10 Spring Wildflowers To Find And 2 To Avoid In Lancaster County

-- Inquirer: 425+ Campsites Across PA Are Closed Indefinitely Due To Federal Cuts At Raystown Lake, Seven Points, Susquehannock, Nancy’s Boat-to-Shore Campgrounds, Tompkins Campground on Tioga-Hammond and Cowanesque Lakes 

-- LancasterOnline: Raystown Lake Federal Recreation Area Campgrounds To Close Due To Federal Hiring Freeze In Huntingdon County  

-- Altoona Mirror: Part Of Raystown Lake Federal Recreation Area Camps To Close Due To Staff Cuts  

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Our National Parks Are National Treasurers DOGE Must Not Cut - By John Plonski

[Posted: March 21, 2025]  PA Environment Digest