By: Annie Socci, Foundation For Sustainable Forests

The Foundation for Sustainable Forests is excited to announce a new partnership with the City of Erie called the Sustainable Forest Management Initiative.

Launched at a press conference alongside Erie Mayor Joseph Schember and city Arborist Sarah Galloway on November 1, the initiative aims to develop a long-term sustainable management plan for the city’s 150+ acres of urban forests.

As Sarah Galloway described in the press conference, “Our forests face many threats, such as invasive species and climate change. These impacts are affecting forests even when they are left untouched.”  

The goal of this partnership is to develop a plan that protects and promotes native plant diversity through invasive species management, improves habitat diversity and quality for birds and other wildlife, and educates the public on the role of sustainable forestry in maintaining healthy forests.

It is the City’s hope that this plan will ensure the long-term health and vigor of its urban forests, while continuing to provide the surrounding community with benefits such as clean air and water, and overall wellness gained from time spent in the woods.

Ms. Galloway is also hopeful that this initiative will provide a template for neighboring municipalities who would similarly like to see their wooded parks managed sustainably over time.

As a nonprofit organization, the Foundation for Sustainable Forests is uniquely positioned to work with the city.  Although primarily a land trust, a significant part of the FSF’s mission is dedicated to promoting sustainable forest practices for the benefit of both people and the land. 

Erie’s Sustainable Forest Management Initiative will showcase approaches to fostering diverse, resilient forests, and broaden its impact on the landscape beyond the lands it currently manages and protects. 

In addition to advising the city in the development of their plan and doing work on the ground, the FSF will also be able to assist the city in seeking grant funds for invasive species control and outreach efforts.  

As the project begins, we will be meeting with neighborhood groups surrounding these wooded parks, as well as seeking input from Erie area groups such as the Erie Bird Observatory and I Am a Planet Kid, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.   

Mayor Schember included in his announcement the potential plan to cut and remove dead and dying trees from the parks, such as dying ash trees affected by the emerald ash boring beetle. 

Any trees that are removed will be determined by the needs of the forest, and net proceeds generated from any tree removal will be reinvested back into the parks, for example to help control the spread of invasive species such as multiflora rose and ornamental vines that spread from neighboring yards.

The FSF looks forward to working with the City of Erie on this visionary initiative.  All too often, humans have many negative impacts on the surrounding natural landscape, and we look forward to highlighting ways that people can positively influence wooded ecosystems, including our urban forests.

Click Here for a video of the press conference (Facebook).

To learn more, contact Annie Socci by sending email to: amsocci@forestsandpeople.org or call 814-694-5830.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Foundation For Sustainable Forests website.  Click Here to support their work.

(Photo: Back row (from left) Guy Dunkle, FSF Forest Manager and Board Member; Erie Mayor Joe Schember; Erie Director of Public Works Dave Mulvihill. Front Row (from left) Annie Socci, FSF Executive Director; Sarah Galloway, Erie Arborist and Sustainability Coordinator; Jane Woods, FSF Board Member.)

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[Posted: Nov. 5, 2018]

11/12/2018