Still time to weigh in on state forest planning

There's still time to make sure officials know your thoughts on future management of Penn's Woods. Why are public lands important to you? 

Rock Run stream, Loyalsock State Forest

As we posted in a recent blog, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is taking citizen input on how it manages our state forests in twelve public meetings -- happening now -- on the Draft State Forest Resource Management Plan (SFRMP). 

The draft plan, last revised in 2007, is the main tool the Bureau of Forestry uses to manage Pennsylvania's approximately 2.2 million acre state forest system. 

At each public meeting, DCNR staff will take input in a small group setting and record your comments. In our previous blog post you'll find more details and a full meeting schedule through November 18.

Do you camp, fish, or hike in PA's forests? Are you concerned about the environmental impacts of unconventional gas development? What kinds of conservation issues are important to you in preserving our state forest system and its natural and recreational treasures? 

This is your chance to be part of the public process and help protect these special places -- like the Clarence Moore Lands of the Loyalsock State Forest, pictured above -- for future generations.

Upcoming meetings include October 29 in Clarion, November 3 in State College, November 10 in Carlisle, and November 12 in Williamsport. All meetings take place from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. and we have the full details and locations. 

Can't make a meeting? Written comments are also accepted through November 30 at StateForestPlan2015@pa.gov.

Kate Gibbons is Northeastern PA outreach coordinator and is based in Wilkes-Barre.

Calling on Gov. Wolf to protect the Loyalsock State Forest

Summertime for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians of all walks of life means picnics, hikes, swimming and fishing on Pennsylvania's great public lands. One particular gem among our state parks and forests is the Loyalsock State Forest -- and this week, the Save the Loyalsock Coalition, representing 100,000 members, urged Gov. Tom Wolf to use his power to protect 25,000 acres of this irreplaceable place from gas drilling.

Rock Run - photo courtesy of Jeff Mitchell

The Save the Loyalsock Coalition was organized in 2012 in response to an urgent threat of proposed drilling on an extraordinary 25,000 acre tract of state forest land known as the Clarence Moore Lands, located primarily in Lycoming County. The Coalition's statewide and local conservation, recreation, fishing and outdoors organizations have engaged citizens and the previous administration in response to the threat of drilling in one of the area's last remaining unfragmented forests.

Gov. Wolf has already worked to protect other state lands from gas development, beginning with Executive Order 2015-03 to again prohibit new leases for gas development in our state parks and forests -- reversing the decision by the Corbett administration. However, since the Clarence Moore Lands are not protected by the moratorium, the magnificent Rock Run (pictured above), the Old Loggers Path trail, and an Audubon Society-designated Important Bird Area are all still at risk of being irreversibly altered by major gas development. 

"Unbroken wilderness areas across our Commonwealth are being increasingly reduced due to gas development infrastructure," said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of PennFuture. "Keeping the Loyalsock's unique Clarence Moore Lands safe for citizens to hike, fish, and experience while protecting rare and endangered species' critical habitat are values shared by countless Pennsylvanians."

You can tour this beautiful and wild part of Penn's Woods via the Loyalsock story map, thanks to FracTracker. Read the Coalition's full letter and press release, and watch for more actions you can take to add your voice to hundreds of thousands of citizens saying: Save the Loyalsock Forest.

Kate Gibbons is northeastern Pennsylvania outreach coordinator and is based in Wilkes-Barre.