Two New Pennsylvania Forests
On March 15th, 2022, the Old-Growth Forest Network dedicated not one but two new Network Forests in Pennsylvania! Coming in at forests #150 and #151, Sweet Root Natural Area and Sulzbacher Demonstration Forest were dedicated to the Network during back-to-back ceremonies, making Pennsylvania the state with the most Network forests. Formerly, Pennsylvania and Ohio were tied for the top with 18 forests each, but now Pennsylvania has taken the lead with a whopping 20 forests. Perhaps Ohio will catch up later this Spring? Be sure to stick around to find out!
Sweet Root Natural Area is located in Bedford County, near south-central Pennsylvania and close to the Maryland border. Located just north of Buchanan State Forest, Sweet Root is a gem of a forest, with dense stands of deciduous trees, bubbling creeks, and a wealth of wildlife. Visitors can park at the Sweet Root Picnic area and make their way along the main trail as it runs parallel to Sweet Root Run, a lively brook that branches off into many tributaries within the Natural Area. Sweet Root is home to a large swath of old-growth hemlock trees, some of which have been dated as being well over 150 years old. Not only are these hemlock trees a hidden treasure due to their age, but also from the fact that they’ve survived highly detrimental effects of the hemlock woolly adelgid, a small aphid-like invasive insect that causes eventual death of the hemlocks it infests.
Photo by Laura Jackson
Located within the Ridge and Valley ecoregion in Pennsylvania, this ecoregion runs along almost the entire length of the Appalachian Mountains and is dotted by the many hills and valleys that have become iconic with this region. The northern section of the Ridge and Valley ecoregion is characterized by a sudden and highly noticeable delineation between the glaciated northeastern region and the rest of the unglaciated northern region. Because Sweet Root belongs to the unglaciated ecoregion, its terrain is gradually sloped. Sweet Root Run also has a small population of naturally reproducing wild trout and is a protected waterway. Hikers visiting the Natural Area can easily spot numerous species of birds, as well as a wide variety of trees, including Tulip-poplar, cucumber magnolia, hemlock, white pine, oak, red maple, some ash, and some beech. Be sure to check out Sweet Root Natural Area if you find yourself in south-central Pennsylvania- you won’t be disappointed!
Our next newest forest, Sulzbacher Demonstration Forest, is also located in Bedford County and can be found about 8 miles south of Clearville, PA, off of Big Creek Road. The property is owned and managed by the Woodland Owners of the Southern Alleghenies (WOSA), a group of private forested landowners who intend to occasionally log their land but to do so in a way that supports native flora, fauna, and pollinators. After surveying a newly gifted 37-acre parcel, the group discovered an 8-acre section of colossal white oak trees. Upon taking core samples of the trees, WOSA determined that some specimens are well over 180 years old! Knowing that they had stumbled upon a unique treasure, WOSA set about to ensure the protection of the old-growth, thereby creating Sulzbacher Demonstration Forest. This forest is a distinctive example of how different landowners and stakeholders can come together to protect such an ecologically important asset for generations to come. WOSA has big plans for how to enhance the visitor experience, including developing better parking, cutting more trails, and building a pavilion.