UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State's School Of Forest Resources In The College Of Agricultural Sciences Will Hold A Conference Titled, "pennsylvania's Forest Resources: Assessing Their Condition," At The Nittany Lion Inn On Its University Park Campus, April 26-27.

The session will explore the state of the commonwealth's forests based on the recently completed field inventory by the U.S. Forest Service, according to Jim Finley, professor of forest resources and conference co-chairman. "The U.S. Forest Service started collecting and reporting periodic data on the condition of Pennsylvania forests in the 1950s," he says. "It has been nearly 15 years since our last snapshot, and it is time to review timber and data trends regarding forest overstory, understory, regeneration and health. The conference will focus on what forest resource managers, landowners and the forest products industry need to know to sustainably manage Pennsylvania forest resources."

The conference, Finley explains, provides an opportunity for natural resource agencies, private consultants, industry specialists, public stakeholders and others to understand forest conditions to improve their management activities.

Jim Grace, director of the Bureau of Forestry for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, will give the closing address to the conference titled, "Creating a Community Around Forests." All attendees are invited to register for Tuesday night's Alumni Banquet to hear a presentation by Peter Duncan, retired executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

The list of presentation topics at the conference seems especially timely as many scientists are expressing increased concern about the future of Pennsylvania forests. Among them: "What's Happening to the Overstory?"; The Shifting Tree Species"; "Monitoring Forest Health"; "Harvesting, and Who is Cutting?"; "Regeneration and Understory Conditions"; "What is Happening on the Land -- Public and Private"; "Synthesis and Perspective -- What Does the Forest Look Like?"; "Case Study -- Risk Mapping For Forest Pests"; and "The Future of Forest Inventory and Analysis."

There also will be presentations and discussions on such timely topics as forest wildlife, including white-tailed deer, biodiversity, climate change and private land management. Presenters will include a host of Penn State faculty and U.S. Forest Service scientists, as well as representatives of several forest product companies, the Nature Conservancy and the Pennsylvania Biodiversity Partnership. "We think we have assembled very qualified speakers to present a wide range of viewpoints on a number of timely issues that should result in a captivating conference," Finley says.

The registration fee for the conference is $195 if received before April 12; $210 after. The fee includes tuition, handouts, beverage breaks and Tuesday's lunch. Tickets for the Alumni Banquet are an additional $35. Walk-in registrations will be accepted only as space allows. The Penn State Forest Resources Issues Conference has been approved by the American Foresters Association for 8.5 CFE credits.

For more information about the conference, contact Finley at 814-863-0401 or by e-mail at http://conferences.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: Contact Jim Finley at 814-863-0401 or by e-mail at fj4@psu.edu.

Jeff Mulhollem Office 814-863-2719 FAX 814-863-9877