Research Reports

Over two-thirds of Pennsylvania's counties have state forestland within their boundaries. In addition, the entire state is divided into 20 state forest districts so that the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry, which is under the Department of Natural Resources, can provide technical assistance to private forest landowners, and provide forest-related public services to the general public within the district boundaries. Pennsylvania forestlands provide economically beneficial forest ecosystem services that include ecological services, forest goods, and socio-cultural benefits. Some policy considerations from the report were to: consider ways to increase individuals' personal experiences with state forests, consider how revenue generated from the recreational activity may help offset the increased burdens of the activity, consider ways to reduce administrative burdens through advances in technology and consider ways to expand leveraging of partnerships that support state forest district operations.