These forests are “working forests” and provide a whole suite of uses and values to Pennsylvania citizens, all while maintaining the forest’s wild character.

Our state forests are managed for:

Pure water
Recreation
Scenic beauty
Plant and animal habitat
Sustainable timber and natural gas
Many other uses and values

The management of our state forests is guided by the State Forest Resource Management Plan.

Clear Creek State Forest Resource Management Plan

A district-level state forest resource management plan is written for each of the bureau’s 20 forest districts across the state.

Using public input and building on the statewide 2016 management plan, the Bureau of Forestry revised and completed a new Clear Creek State Forest Resource Management Plan (PDF) setting district-level management priorities.

2023 Management Activities

View the 2023 Clear Creek State Forest management activities (PDF) for upcoming projects and events to implement the State Forest Resource Management Plan.

Harvest Schedule

Local state forest harvest schedules promote and maintain desired forest landscape conditions while providing a sustainable flow of forest products.

Ecosystem Management

The Bureau of Forestry has adopted “ecosystem management” as its principal strategy for managing state forests. This approach seeks to conserve the natural patterns and processes of the forest while advancing long-term sustainability.

Ecosystem management promotes the conservation of plant and animal communities and the landscapes and habitats that support them. It also accounts for needs and values of people and communities.

This results in a holistic, integrated approach to managing forest resources.

A Working Forest

As you travel throughout the state forest, you’ll see examples of our forests “at work.” Some of these management practices are more noticeable than others, such as:

Active timber harvests
Deer exclosure fences
Natural gas drilling sites
Prescribed fires
Spongy moth spraying

Others are more subtle, such as the:

Protection of a vernal pool
Buffering a stream from timber harvesting
Designating a special area to conserve its wild character or protect a rare plant community

Each of these management practices and activities play a vital role in the management and conservation of our state forest system.

Dual Certified Forest

Pennsylvania’s 2.2-million-acre state forest system is one of the largest dual certified forests in North America. The forest is certified under Forest Stewardship Council™ and Sustainable Forestry Initiative© standards.

The FSC© is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

SFI© certification focuses on protection of water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests with exceptional conservation value.

Dual certification ensures that Pennsylvania’s state forests are managed to the highest third-party standards.

Clear Creek State Forest