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Of
the 17 million acres of forestland in Pennsylvania about three-fourths
are owned privately and one-fourth is publicly owned.
- An estimated
512,000 private owners own an average of 23 acres each - or 11.5
million acres.
- State forests,
game lands and other
state, county and municipal forestlands equal nearly 3 million
acres.
- Forest industry
ownership is less than 1 million acres.
- Federal
ownership is more than one-half (.5) million acres.
The forests
of Pennsylvania are home to some 3,500 species of plants and animals.
They contain 90 tree species and two-thirds of the state's native
plants. They provide habitat for some 120 species of birds and 50
species of mammal.
Different species
require different forest habitats - from young trees to old growth
- and a variety of conditions - from wetlands to open areas to the
presence of underbrush.
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Inherent
forest benefits:
- Water
quality protection: Forest soil absorbs runoff, filters
water, and traps and transforms contaminants.
- Wildlife
habitat: Forests provide a diversity of habitats over space
and time.
- Soil
conservation: Trees and other plants reduce the impact of
rain while root systems hold the soil in place.
- Climate
regulation: Trees are important gas exchangers. They convert
carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen.
For each ton of growing wood, an estimated 1.47 tons of
carbon dioxide are removed from the air and 1.07 tons of
oxygen are produced. Growing forests are considered an important
sink for greenhouse gases.
- Filtration
of pollution and dust in the air.
- Natural
barriers to wind, snow, rain and solar radiation.
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Derived
forest benefits:
- Recreation
- Hunting
and fishing
- Landowner
income
- Spiritual
and psychological renewal
- Timber
production
- Noise
reductions
- Wild
crops, such as nuts and berries, for culinary, pharmaceutical
and other uses
- Specialty
crops, including Christmas trees, ginseng and maple syrup
- Outdoor
classrooms
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