Tuesday, 23 July 2024
PENNSYLVANIA DCNR PRESENTED FSC US LEADERSHIP AWARD
By Thomas Kain, Senior Manager FM Certification Markets
On July 11th Amy Eagle, Director of Science and Technology and I (FSC) traveled to Harrisburg, PA to represent the Forest Stewardship Council in a ceremony recognizing the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry as one of the 2023 FSC Leadership award recipients.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) sustainably manages over 2.2 million acres of Pennsylvania state forests. On hand to receive the award were former State Forester Jim Grace who initiated the certification process over three decades ago in 1993, past State Foresters Dan Devlin and Ellen Shultzbarger and the current State Forester Seth Cassell, as well as the PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Deputy Secretary of Parks and Forestry John Norbeck. District foresters, assistant district foresters, division chiefs, section chiefs, and other staff members were also present for the ceremony.
During the presentation, the past State Foresters, the current State Forester, Secretary Dunn, and Deputy Secretary Norbeck of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) commented on the long-term value of FSC certification. A few of the values mentioned were:
- Being involved with the national and international forestry community
- Improved DCNR operations, facilitating the development of diverse partnerships
- Supporting the forest products industry
- Improved communications within the department
Following the award presentation and lunch, Amy and I gave a presentation to 15 DCNR staff who were attending in person and about thirty staff members who joined virtually from across the Commonwealth. The topics discussed included how FSC is structured in the US and Internationally, the number of FSC acres certified in the US, consumer survey data concerning who consumers trust to provide credible solutions to environmental issues, and a new offering for FSC forest management certificate holders, the Ecosystem Services Verified Impact Procedure. We ended with a status update on the US National Forest Stewardship Standard revision.
Touring the Wertz Tract in the William Penn State Forest
On Friday, Amy and I met for a morning in the woods with Jason Hall, Regional Forester, Rick Hartlieb, District Forester, Kayla Kehres, Forester, and Sara Crouse, Forestry Technician. We toured the Wertz Tract which is part of the William Penn State Forest discussing their efforts to control invasive species like arailia, lessons learned using drones to apply herbicides, past timber harvests, and efforts to protect several dozen mature ash trees along Hospital Creek from the emerald ash borer which is wiping out ash forests across the US.
The last stop of the day was an Eagle Scout project. The project was a footbridge built across Hospital Creek. The bridge was built with help from DCNR personnel and the local township.
By the end it was clear why the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry was named as an FSC Leadership Award recipient. Gifford Pinchot the father of American conservation and a past State forester and governor of Pennsylvania once said about the importance of natural resources:
“Without natural resources life itself is impossible. From birth to death, natural resources, transformed for human use, feed, clothe, shelter, and transport us. Upon them, we depend for every material necessity, comfort, convenience, and protection in our lives. Without abundant resources, prosperity is out of reach.”
Pennsylvania’s natural resources and prosperity are in good hands based on the people who work for the Pennsylvania DCNR.
Know a Certificate Holder that Deserves Similar Recognition for Their Leadership?
Nominations for the 2024 FSC Leadership Awards are open until August 30th. Use this link for more information https://us.fsc.org/en-us/get-involved/fsc-leadership-awards
