Timber Harvest Overview

• No hurry! Your trees aren't going anywhere and you should not be in a hurry to make any commitments.
• Remember that your opportunity to profit from your trees should include a commitment to the future. Your timber harvest now will determine the makeup and health of your woodlot for many decades to come.
• Resources are available that will guarantee that you can make decisions regarding your timber harvest with the best possible information.
  
• Trees of PA provides an article on guidelines for a timber harvest, including contact information for each county. Visit our main County Page, follow the link to your county, and then review "Managing Your Woodlot."
• Work with a Consulting Forester! These forestery professionals work with landowners to assure a sustainable and profitable harvest, and we believe that most successful harvests are conducted with the assistance of a consulting forester. Both the Bureau of Forestery service forester and your local woodland association can assist with securing the services of a consulting forester.
  

Service Foresters

The PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry describes the role of service foresters as, "A Bureau Service Forester is assigned to each county to advise residents on forest management."   You can arrange for a service forester to visit your woodlot and initiate the process of long-term planning with you. Link to the Bureau of Forestry Website.

PA Woodland Owners Associations

Pennsylvania has an excellent network of Woodland Owner Associations serving a majority of its 67 counties. It is well worth your while to join your local association and meet other landowners who are in various stages on managing their woodlots. Our "Managing Your Woodlot", found on each county page, describes the options in each county. Visit PA Counties and follow the link to your county.

Publications

Forestry & Forest Management Publications from Penn State University College of Ag. Sciences. Link here for the main page. We recommend starting with the Forest Stewardship Series. Although all of the publications in this series will prove valuable to the woodlot owner, Forest Stewarship 7: Timber Harvesting: An Essential Management Tool should be particularly helpful.