​​​​​​​Pinchot State Forest

Pinchot State Forest is named in recognition of Gifford Pinchot’s monumental contributions to forestry and his legacy of forest land conservation.

Pinchot turned a childhood interest in nature into a distinguished career protecting forests and a founding role in America’s emerging conservation movement.

Pinchot State Forest comprises approximately 54,000 acres, forestlands that characterize many of the mountainous areas near the confluence of the Susquehanna and Lackawanna rivers.

Pinchot Forest District includes:

• Lackawanna County
• Luzerne County
• Wyoming County
• Susquehanna County
• Wayne County

Pinchot State Forest Management

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry manages our state forests for their long-term health and productivity while conserving native wild plants.

These forests are managed as “working forests” and provide a suite of uses and values to Pennsylvania citizens, 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.

Pinchot State Forest Resource Management Plan

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

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

2024 Management Activities

The Pinchot State Forest ​2024​ ​Management Activities (PDF) provides information about 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 (formerly known as gypsy moth)​ sprayin​g

Others are more subtle, such as the:

• Protection of a vernal pool
• Buffering of a stream from timber harvesting
• Setting aside of 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 Forest Stewardship Council™ is an independent organization supporting environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative©​ 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.​​