Ancient Forests

Ancient Forests Tour Locations

Ancient Forests Tour Itinerary

Ancient Forests Tour Map

Description: Cook Forest State Park is a wonderful place to see one of the largest old-growth forests in the state, containing stands of old-growth white pine and eastern hemlock. The old growth portion of the park is called the Forest Cathedral and the Pennsylvania "Black Forest" and has been recognized as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. The stands of old-growth trees are located in three tracts: Swamp Area, Seneca Area, and Cathedral Area. The best place to see the old-growth stands is on the 27-mile trail network. There is also a great scenic view from the top of the old 80-foot #9 fire tower! Another scenic overlook is from Seneca Point, which overlooks the Clarion River twisting though the forested valley.

Environmental Issue: Old growth forests are timber that have been logged very little or never. That is, they look as they would have before Christopher Columbus "discovered" America. The old-growth stands at Cook Forest are believed to have begun growing following a severe drought and forest fire in 1644. The growth has continued to produce trees that are over 300 years old, 200 feet tall, and three to four feet in diameter. Four large trees from an old growth stand would be enough to build a six-room house!

Old growth makes up less than five percent of the forests remaining in the United States and contains unique trees that make significant contributions to biodiversity. In the past, scientists referred to old growth forests as climax ecosystems, implying that a forest had reached a final stage of growth with no further change. This theory is misleading because it fails to account for natural changes within mature ecosystems. Today, ecosystems at a final stage of succession are called steady state: they have reached equilibrium of plant and animal species, but not without the possibility of change. Old forests do not change as greatly as young, developing forests, but at no time does any ecosystem remain static.

USDA Forest Sciences Laboratory

Description: At the USDA Forest Sciences LAboratory, scientists conduct basic and applied forest ecosystem research to enhance understanding of Allegheny Plateau Forests. While providing basic scientific understanding leading to management guildlines and management unit indicators for forest ecosystems in Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Plateau, and adjacent regions, focused on sustaining values of biological diversity, economic and ecological prodctivity, forest health and vitality, and contributions to carbon cycles. The laboratory's research is conducted in the Allegheny Plateau region, at the stand, stand aggragate, and landscape level. Through this regional research, we will contribute to basic understnading of forest ecosystems and sustainable forest management.

Environmental Issue: The forest industry accounts for the annual harvest of 680 billion board-feet to meet the growing demand for lumber. (One board-foot is 12 inches square and one inch thick; 680 billion board-feet is equivalent to the wood that would be contained in 10,000 Meadville, Pennsylvania, Wal-Mart buildings!) To minimize the impact on the environment, harvesting must be well-managed. Sustainable forestry practices maintain or restore the health and integrity of forest ecosystems. Forest certification is a way to promote sustainable forestry practices that protect the forest. The demand and supply of certified wood and sustainably managed forests are increasing in Pennsylania. Through research conducted at Kane Experiemental Forest (pictured above), scientists work with forest industries to find sustainable ways to harvest high quality hardwoods. Kane Hardwoods carefully plans and allows harvests to increase the quantity and quality of future yields by concentrating on regeneration of the next stand.

Tionesta National Scenic Area

Description: Tionesta National Scenic Area is a 2,000-acre tract of Allegheny National Forest. It is part of the original forest that once covered six million acres on the Allegheny Plateau. The forest consists of 300-400 year old beech, hemlock, and sugar maple. The area is nearly undisturbed, making an ideal place for solitude, where one may see whitetail deer, black bear, and several bat species, while bird watchers will see birds that prefer old growth such as barred owls, northern goshawks, pileated woodpeckers, flycatchers, thrushes, and warblers. The effects of a tornado that passed through the northern half of the area can still be seen. From this area, there is access to a portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which can be accessed along the road entrance.

Environmental Issue: On the evening of May 31, 1985, a tornado moved through the northern half of the Tionesta Scenic Area causing heavy damage to the forest. The effects of the tornado can still be seen today, however many of the new trees now tower over people's heads and in coming years it will be difficult to distinguish between the old and new growth trees. Tornadoes are an example of a natural disaster most common in the spring and early summer that occur when a strong cold front pushes under a warm air mass over land. Tornadoes are destructive, yet after their occurrence, the forest tends to regenerate quickly. In fact, it is important to note that major forest disturbances, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, and ice storms are often necessary for long-term forest health.

Hearts Content National Scenic Area

Description: Hearts Content consists of 120 acres and has 300 year old white pine, hemlock and beech old growth trees and is one of the largest and oldest in the eastern U.S. A one-mile interpretive trail, with displays on old growth, loops through the old growth stand back to the picnic area. This quiet and undisturbed ecosystem makes it an ideal place to relax and observe wildlife. The area was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1974.

Environmental Issue: Whitetail deer, Pennsylvania's state animal, are a beautiful asset to the ecosystem, but are also destructive because the deer population is far greater than the environment can support. Whitetail deer feed on understory vegetation of seedling-sapling forests, removing the buds, stems, and leaves of flowers, shrubs, and young trees. Deer selectively browse on certain species of plants, eradicating them from the forest understory. Forests must contain small seedlings and saplings to allow for regeneration after logging or the death of mature trees. The lack of seeding and sapling-size trees is pronounced in many northwest Pennsylvania forests. The understory is habitat for many small mammals and birds. Deer have altered the structure of the forests, and the makeup of the entire forest ecosystem. Farmers are also concerned about deer overpopulation because deer feed on crops when forests food sources become depleted.

Hearts Content is losing its American Beech due to the exotic insect pest, beech scale, introduced into North America about 1890 when ornamental beech trees traveled from Europe to Nova Scotia. The insect infects the bark of the trees, allowing a fatal fungus to carry out the killing. There is no cost effective way to protect entire forests from the disease, however resistance strains of beech trees have been found.