James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

The James C. Finley Center for Private Forests focuses on applied research, education, and outreach to students, forest landowners, the forest-products industry, loggers, conservation districts, agencies, land trusts, non-governmental organizations, and the public.

Center Vision

A world where stewardship practices sustain healthy and resilient private forests which contribute to the social, ecological, and economic well-being of society.

Center Mission

Working at the intersection of people and forests, the Center advances research-based insights to inspire and cultivate stewardship of private forests.

The James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State

While bittersweet, we are pleased to announce that the Center for Private Forests at Penn State has been renamed in honor of its founder. His foundational scholarship on which we built the Center recognized the personal, value-driven relationships that many private landowners have with the forests they own. He worked hard to help forestry and natural resource professionals recognize these relationships to better understand the needs of private forest landowners and help them achieve their stewardship goals. The renaming will inspire the center’s staff, council, volunteers and stakeholders as we work to advance the work of our colleague, mentor and friend.