Management Practices

Find educational resources and advice on private forest management practices, including stewardship principles and sustainable forestry. Learn about control of forest vegetation, watersheds, wetlands, and native plants. Tips on small woodlots management, forest education, and road maintenance are available.

Best Management Practices for Pennsylvania Forests

Best management practices (BMPs) for forests are activities that positively affect the forest ecosystem and minimize adverse effects. Applicable forest management practices can vary depending on the primary issue on which they are based. BMPs for insect and disease problems, for instance, include improving species diversity, changing species composition, and including harvesting timber to salvage dying trees.

Note that BMPs should be flexible in order to accommodate different changes in the economic, social, and environmental use of forest resources. Further information can be found in the Best Management Practices for Pennsylvania Forests publication. There, you will also find advice on silvicultural practices, forest health and protection, and timber harvesting regulations.

For a successful forest management plan, you can access Penn State Extension’s resources on creating and enhancing woodlands. Information is available on maintaining property lines and implementing Integrated Vegetation Management to sustain healthy forest ecosystems. Woodland owners are invited to learn more about sustainable management decisions and find answers to common forest management questions.

Timber Harvesting

Harvesting timber is an essential management tool for preserving and improving the health of woods. Trees can be harvested for various reasons, including attracting wildlife species, improving access, and controlling the types of trees growing on the land.

Timber harvesting can also serve as a source of income. Before standing timber is sold, however, an inventory of the species, size, and volume of trees may be necessary. Foresters responsible for assessing timber utilize a cruise assessment to establish its value. Learn how to obtain fair market pricing when selling during the Valuing Standing Timber course.

While many woodland owners strive to maintain forest health when harvesting, short-term needs can prompt poorly planned harvesting decisions. If such timber harvests repeatedly occur in the same place, they can eventually lead to forest degradation.

In this section, find recommendations and advice on timber taxation procedures and record-keeping, as well as local timber harvesting ordinances. Information on general timber market trends is available, as well.

Sustainable Forestry

Sustainable forestry is an essential concept that provides for forests’ various uses by balancing the present and future needs of communities, the environment, and wildlife. Overall, sustainable forestry is concerned with all parts of the forest, including trees, soils, and water. It further involves protecting woodlands from pests, diseases, and wildfire, as well as conserving biodiversity.

While the process of conserving biological wealth in forests may appear complex, it is crucial for meeting our growing needs in a sustainable way. With the majority of Pennsylvania forestland owned by private citizens, forest landowners play an essential role in protecting biodiversity.

From planting trees and planning your forest's future to protecting wildlife habitats, this section offers woodland owners an array of valuable resources on sustainable forest management practices.

Private Forest Finances

Economic and financial factors can have a significant effect on the way forests are managed. What’s more, forest finance often affects the feasibility of implementing sustainable forestry practices.

Cost-saving strategies that can help landowners benefit from tax incentives include having a well-written forest management plan, keeping accurate records, and creating a professional tax team. Learn more about saving money on taxes during the Forest Finance and Timber Tax Education course.

In addition, forest owners can take advantage of Penn State Extension’s publication series on forest finances. Topics covered include economic sustainability and forest harvesting, fencing options for forest regeneration, and tree shelters for promoting favorable seedling growth conditions.