A Note from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association

By Matt Sampson, Pennsylvania Forestry Association President

This summer I was taken to reflection. It was early in June 1984 that I loaded my ‘78 Subaru wagon and drove to the Idaho panhandle for my very first forestry job. Today, 40 years later, I find myself looking back on what has proven to be a wonderful career working with forests and the community of unique individuals that tend them. What I couldn’t appreciate back then is how much would change in the practice of forestry during that time.

In 40 “short” years, we have redefined silvicultural systems to manage forests by acre and by species. Fire has been reintroduced to the hardwood forest as a management tool. Chainsaws and cable skidders are replaced with feller-bunchers, grapple skidders, and forwarders. Spongy moth, Japanese knotweed, spotted lanternfly, barberry, buckthorn, and stiltgrass are just a few of the ever-increasing list of invasive species. And we are faced with the potential loss of key species, including hemlock, ash, and butternut. Climate change mitigation and the forest’s role in carbon sequestration have international implications, and forest certification systems have evolved, documenting the good work the forestry community has completed all these years. Through it all, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) has been engaged.

Forest change is eminent, and we can only imagine what forest management in the next 40 years will look like. As it has done for over the last 100 years, the practice of forestry will evolve. PFA’s goal of addressing the ever-changing needs of our forests and forest community cannot be met without your help. Whether you are a forest landowner, casual forest visitor, or a practicing forester, your engagement and input on managing through the coming changes add value to the broader forest community. I hope you feel free to reach out to PFA with the forestry-related ideas, interests, and concerns that mean the most to you. You reach out, we will listen and address—that’s been our mission for over 135 years!

Children’s Hospital: Log-A-Load for Kids Benefit—The PFA charity sporting clays event has passed; however, PFA is expanding the charity effort to include general donations. Contributions are easier than ever: just go to the PFA website and navigate to the Log-A-Load for Kids event. At the top-right of the page you can click the “DONATE” button; donations are accepted in any amount. Or you can type this into your browser: https://paforestry.org/events/2023/log-a-load-for-kids-sporting-clays-shoot. This is a PFA membership effort to help Pennsylvania children in need. I hope you will consider a general donation. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Fall is fast upon us! I wish you all beautiful fall colors, hot apple cider, and a wonderful hunting season.

Please be safe and take care,

Matt

For more information about PFA, visit their website at www.paforestry.org or call 800-835-8065.

By Matt Sampson, Pennsylvania Forestry Association President

This summer I was taken to reflection. It was early in June 1984 that I loaded my ‘78 Subaru wagon and drove to the Idaho panhandle for my very first forestry job. Today, 40 years later, I find myself looking back on what has proven to be a wonderful career working with forests and the community of unique individuals that tend them. What I couldn’t appreciate back then is how much would change in the practice of forestry during that time.

In 40 “short” years, we have redefined silvicultural systems to manage forests by acre and by species. Fire has been reintroduced to the hardwood forest as a management tool. Chainsaws and cable skidders are replaced with feller-bunchers, grapple skidders, and forwarders. Spongy moth, Japanese knotweed, spotted lanternfly, barberry, buckthorn, and stiltgrass are just a few of the ever-increasing list of invasive species. And we are faced with the potential loss of key species, including hemlock, ash, and butternut. Climate change mitigation and the forest’s role in carbon sequestration have international implications, and forest certification systems have evolved, documenting the good work the forestry community has completed all these years. Through it all, the Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) has been engaged.

Forest change is eminent, and we can only imagine what forest management in the next 40 years will look like. As it has done for over the last 100 years, the practice of forestry will evolve. PFA’s goal of addressing the ever-changing needs of our forests and forest community cannot be met without your help. Whether you are a forest landowner, casual forest visitor, or a practicing forester, your engagement and input on managing through the coming changes add value to the broader forest community. I hope you feel free to reach out to PFA with the forestry-related ideas, interests, and concerns that mean the most to you. You reach out, we will listen and address—that’s been our mission for over 135 years!

Children’s Hospital: Log-A-Load for Kids Benefit—The PFA charity sporting clays event has passed; however, PFA is expanding the charity effort to include general donations. Contributions are easier than ever: just go to the PFA website and navigate to the Log-A-Load for Kids event. At the top-right of the page you can click the “DONATE” button; donations are accepted in any amount. Or you can type this into your browser: https://paforestry.org/events/2023/log-a-load-for-kids-sporting-clays-shoot. This is a PFA membership effort to help Pennsylvania children in need. I hope you will consider a general donation. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Fall is fast upon us! I wish you all beautiful fall colors, hot apple cider, and a wonderful hunting season.

Please be safe and take care,

Matt

For more information about PFA, visit their website at www.paforestry.org or call 800-835-8065.