PENNSYLVANIA—The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources expanded the Delaware State Forest by 556 acres in partnership with The Conservation Fund and the USDA Forest Service Forest Legacy Program. The new property will provide public access opportunities while maintaining the area’s rural character. It’s the final piece of a multi-year Forest Legacy Program conservation initiative that’s permanently protected 4,238 acres of forestland in northeast Pennsylvania.

The 556-acre property supports high-quality northern hardwood forests and pockets of grassland meadow habitat for white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, porcupines, bobcats, native wildflowers, ground nesting birds and more. When it went to auction in 2021, there was a risk that the property would be purchased for development and the ecological benefits it provides to the surrounding area would be lost. Recognizing the urgent need for action, The Conservation Fund purchased it and then worked closely with the state and the Forest Service to seek a permanent conservation outcome for the property through the Forest Legacy Program. In June, this effort culminated with the state purchasing the property as an addition to the Delaware State Forest, securing public recreation access and protections for current and future generations.

“When forests are converted to non-forest uses, we lose the social, economic and environmental benefits these landscapes provide. Through our Forest Legacy Program, the Forest Service directly supports keeping forests as forests for the benefit of everyone,” said Gina Owens, regional forester for the Eastern Region.

As part of the Delaware State Forest, the property will be managed by the state, which is exploring adding public access for recreational activities. The new addition includes more than 50 acres of wetlands, along with Red Rock Run, a stream that supports trout populations, and other diverse natural features that create high-quality habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species.  

“DCNR is grateful for the opportunity to take over as stewards of this beautiful, forested area and we are excited about what’s in store for the Delaware State Forest with this new addition,” Pennsylvania natural resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “We look forward to expanding access for recreational opportunities, while also sticking to our core mission of preserving natural spaces for future generations. Special thanks to The Conservation Fund for making this acquisition possible and the Forest Service for funding support of this transfer.”

Lead funding for the project came from the Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, with additional financial support from the state’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. The Forest Legacy Program is administered by the Forest Service in partnership with designated state agencies to encourage the protection of privately-owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases. It is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was established by Congress in 1964 to fulfill a bipartisan commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, and to provide public recreation opportunities.