Save the Date! 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference March 24-25

October 28, 2022

Save the date for the 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25, 2023 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College, PA.

Walk in Penn’s Woods: Gov. Wolf Designates October 2 as a Day to Explore Pennsylvania’s Forests

September 20, 2022

Did you know that Pennsylvania has a special day where everyone across the state is invited to take a walk through the woods to appreciate the beauty and importance of the commonwealth’s forests?

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

September 2, 2022

In April of this year, Penn State renamed the Center for Private Forests in honor of its founder, Jim Finley. 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 inspires the center’s staff, council, volunteers and stakeholders as we work to advance the work of our colleague, mentor and friend.

Connecting with a Missing Voice in Conservation: The Next Generation

September 2, 2022

Check out how Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is working to engage with young people to bring a new perspective to their work.

Dealing with Spotted Lanternflies? Here Are Some Resources to Help

September 2, 2022

We have heard stories of the spread of the spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania, along the Northeast, and into the Midwest. We’ve even been told of these pests buzzing fans at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park! And we’re hearing reports of decline in some places where they invaded five or six years ago. No matter where you live in Pennsylvania, you will most likely encounter the spotted lanternfly at some point. As we enter the adult/egg laying phase of their life cycle, here are some resources to help you identify and manage these invaders.

Video: Non-lead Ammo for Deer Hunting

September 2, 2022

Wildlife conservation and hunter safety and ethics are two fundamentals of modern recreational hunting. And one of the basics of hunter ethics and safety is that hunters should always know their target and beyond. This video discusses the final destination of the lead ammunition used in deer hunting – the "beyond." It examines how lead bullets fragment into tiny pieces when shot, and where they end up after that. The consequences to wildlife – especially birds of prey – are serious, and a non-lead solution is presented.

Missed a Recent Issue of Forest Leaves? Find It Here!

September 2, 2022

This is a repository of the last four printed issues of Forest Leaves. Feel free to download, share, and print these pdf files!

Wild Foraging for Invasive Plants

May 30, 2022

Consider options for turning invasive plant species into food - a means of control and tasty too!

PA Department of Agriculture Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine

April 20, 2022

LF is currently found in 45 counties in Pennsylvania, all of which are under a state-imposed quarantine.

Steps to Restoring a Farm or Rural Property Part 2

April 20, 2022

This article, which offers suggestions for planning and carrying out restoration activities on a newly-purchased rural or agricultural property, is the second of two articles in a series. The first article offered advice on how to find and select rural or agricultural properties for restoration.

James C. Finley Becomes First Allegheny SAF Foresters Hall of Fame Inductee

April 20, 2022

The Allegheny Society of American Foresters (ASAF) Hall of Fame Committee selected James C. Finley as their first official inductee into the newly-created ASAF Foresters Hall of Fame.

Mushroom Hunting in Pennsylvania: Supporting Graduate Student Research

April 20, 2022

Ecology Graduate Student, Amy Wrobleski, is seeking to understand which mushrooms people like to hunt in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions, and how they learn about mushroom hunting. Read on to find out how you can help.

At the Center: Sharing Our Work

April 20, 2022

At the core of the Center for Private Forests at Penn State's work is applied research: research for and with those who are looking for answers to pressing questions, challenges faced, and opportunities sought.

Pennsylvania Forestry Association: Conservation Banquet a Success

April 20, 2022

Spring update from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association

Tree Farm News: Forest Monitoring After Enrollment in a Carbon Program

April 20, 2022

Update on his enrollment in the Family Forest Carbon Program from PA Tree Farm Committee Chair, John Hoover

SFI Rolls Out New 2022 Standards and Rules

April 20, 2022

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative's new forest certification standards focus on sustainable forest management and the procurement of wood products from sustainably managed sources, critical tools that support the long-term sustainability of forests and ensure the multitude of benefits that forests provide for future generations.

Woods and Wildlife News and Notes: The Latest News from the Forestry and Wildlife Extension Team

April 20, 2022

Penn State Extension’s team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the titles and thumbnails of these articles with you each quarter.

Triggers for Tree Response to Spring Weather

April 20, 2022

Ever wondered how a tree know to send out its first green leaves or flowers? How does a tree know that winter is likely over? Learn about how day length, the length of winter, and spring warmth play roles in bud break.

A Case for Winter Weather: Timber Harvest

January 26, 2022

As someone who has called northern Pennsylvania home for most of her life, I have developed a somewhat ambivalent relationship with winter.

Preliminary Results of 2021 PA Forest Stewards Biennial Survey

January 24, 2022

PA Forest Stewards have a great impact in their communities and beyond!

Finding that Special Farm or Rural Property to Restore: Part One

January 11, 2022

This article, which offers advice on how to find and select rural and agricultural properties for restoration, is the first of two articles in a series. The second article will offer suggestions for planning and carrying out restoration activities on a newly-purchased property. This advice is drawn from Paul’s experience finding and restoring eight rural agricultural properties totaling 1,126 acres over several decades.

Weathering COVID-19: Pennsylvania Loggers’ Experience

January 11, 2022

Every day, the news highlights the impact of COVID-19 on people across our country and around the world. We wanted to do our best to get the voices of Pennsylvania loggers heard, understanding that though they are working in a naturally socially distanced industry, the pandemic’s impact has been far-reaching.

Family Forest Carbon Program Expands Open Enrollment Across Pennsylvania

January 11, 2022

The Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) recently expanded to cover all of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and western Maryland.

Pennsylvania Forestry Association Election Results and Awards

January 11, 2022

The Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) conducted its Annual Symposium virtually November 2 and 4, 2021.

At the Center: Carrying Forward Jimʼs Vision

January 11, 2022

Over the past several weeks, we at the Center have been overwhelmed by messages of support and sympathy for the loss of our founder Jim Finley. We also have heard many, many stories of the ways in which Jim, whether in the classroom or the woods, touched peopleʼs lives.

5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference Set for March 24-25, 2023

January 11, 2022

The Center for Private Forests at Penn State is excited to announce that the 5th Biennial Forest Landowners Conference is set for Friday-Saturday, March 24-25, 2023.

Woods and Wildlife News and Notes: The Latest News from the Forestry and Wildlife Extension Team

January 11, 2022

Penn State Extensionʼs team of Forestry and Wildlife experts publishes an e-newsletter, Woods and Wildlife News and Notes, containing the most recent information, events, demonstrations, partnerships, and activities coming from the team. Forest Leaves shares the titles and thumbnails of these articles with you each quarter.

Webinar Series Will Help Owners of Small Woodlots Care for Their Woods

January 11, 2022

The vast majority of Pennsylvaniaʼs forest landowners have small woodlots fewer than 10 acres in size. These small patches add up to about a million acres, or 10 percent of our stateʼs privately-held woodlands.

USDA NRCS Announces Changes to Management Planning

January 11, 2022

Nationwide the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made several changes to planning and the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program recently.

Remembering Jim Finley: A Leader Dedicated to Working at the Intersection of People and Forests

December 13, 2021

James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

Address

416 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802

James C. Finley Center for Private Forests

Address

416 Forest Resources Building
University Park, PA 16802