Parks
Pennsylvanian's are fortunate - most of us live within a 30 minute drive of a state park. The vision of Maurice "Doc" Goddard, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters (today's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) was to have a park within 25 miles of every citizen. While we don't quite have a park in every county, we come close, with 117 parks in the commonwealth. Even more fortunate, Pennsylvania's parks remain free to all - there are no admission fees at any Pennsylvania State Park.
To learn more about Pennsylvania's parks, follow this link to the State Park webpage. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/index.aspx
To search the calendar of events, go to
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Calendar/list.asp?intDivisionID=3
"My most favorite state park or forest is Cook State Forest. Its beautiful stand of virgin timber is a sight to behold and are a unique example of Pennsylvania's verdant splendor." - Ken Gaudi, PPFF Board
Forests
From 0 acres to 2.2 million acres in under 125 years!
Pennsylvania is home to more than 2.2 million acres of state forest. These forests protect more than 25,000 miles of rivers and streams and supports a multi-billion dollar forest-products industry. Our forests provide all this, while facing a dramatic increase in recreational activities, urban sprawl and a ravenous white-tail deer population.
Pennsylvania contains the largest certified forest in the nation. Certified by Scientific Certification Systems of Oakland, CA, the state forest lands are evaluated in three required categories:
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Forest Ecosystem Maintenance
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Financial and Socioeconomic Considerations
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Timber Resource Sustainability
PPFF is proud of the work of our Bureau of Forestry, and encourages you to learn more by visiting their web page at: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/
"I serve on the board because I believe that Pennsylvania's state forests and parks are arguable the best investment the commonwealth has made in its future. They are enormously valuable, environmentally and economically. Continuing to lend support to enhance and protect that base is of critical importance." -Pete Duncan, PPFF Board
Photo caption: Hiking on the Fred's Wood Trail, Elk State Forest.
iConservePA
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation is a proud partner of the iConservePa program.
I conserve, do you? iConserve encourages all Pennsylvanians to get take conservation personally - in their backyards, in their communities and on their public lands. Volunteer. Become a better steward of natural resources. Join organizations - like PPFF - working to protect the places we love.
Take simples steps for a greener future. It's easy. Learn how at
iConservePA.org.
