• Date:  September 2, 2009
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Location: Cambria County Extension Meeting Room, Ebensburg

As part of this meeting, we will process the mailing for the September 19 program – Name that Tree!

The public is invited and all members are encouraged to attend!

• Only 18 slots are available, and preregistration is required!
• Visit Programs 2009 to link to both the flyer and registration form.

Don’t forget to check out the other programs scheduled. We hope to see you often in 2009!

The next board meeting is scheduled for 6:00 PM on March 5th at the Cambria County Extension Meeting room. The public is invited and all members are encouraged to attend.

• Membership Mailing
• Discussion of option to create separate Blair County association
• Review/approval of website
• Educational Programs for 2009

We request that all board members attend. All AMWA members are also strongly encouraged to attend, and the public is always invited.

The Allegheny Mountain Woodland Association (AMWA) will host its 5th Annual Family Picnic and Forestry Education event on Saturday, August 2, from Noon to 4:00 PM. The picnic and educational activities will take place at the Paul Noll residence and woodlot, located at 524 Noll Road, Loretto. Forest landowners and anyone interested in learning more about our forests are invited to attend.

One of many woodland owners’ associations across Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Mountain Woodland Association aims to connect property owners and forestry professionals in Blair and Cambria Counties through various networking and educational opportunities. The organization schedules informational presentations, workshops, field trips, industry tours and other activities throughout the year.

AMWA’s annual picnics provide a great opportunity to meet fellow woodlot owners, learn about forest management, enjoy delicious food, and participate in fun and learning for all ages. This year’s picnic will include a reforestation demonstration (use of deer fencing, tree tubes, and more), a beehive display and presentation, an antique forestry tools display, and hayride transportation to the woodlot reforestation demonstration. The Noll woodlot provides a great opportunity to see firsthand the ongoing results of a well-managed reforestation project.

Food and beverages will be provided at the picnic. Covered dishes would be appreciated, but not required. Please call 814-472- 8560 for directions or more information.

 Planned for Saturday, March 8, 2008

Penn State Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with Penn State School of Forest Resources, the DCNR Bureau of Forestry, the Woodland Owners of Centre County, the North Central Forest Landowners Association, and the Clearfield/Jefferson Counties Forest Stewardship Committee are providing an educational conference specifically for forest landowners and managers to learn and discuss forest and wildlife management on private forest lands.  The conference is scheduled from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm., Saturday, March 8, 2008, at the Penn State School of Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA.

Forests cover nearly 60% or over 17 million acres of Pennsylvania.  Over 750,000 private forest landowners own approximately 75% (12.5 million acres) of this land.  Forests provide us with many benefits including wood products, wildlife habitat, places to recreate, and beautiful vistas.  They also give us clean water by protecting watersheds and clean air by removing carbon dioxide.  Forests are also vital to the economy of Pennsylvania.  The forest products industry is the fourth largest industry in the state, employing over 90,000 workers in 2,500 firms and contributes almost 5 billion dollars to the state’s economy annually.  To continue providing these benefits into the future forests must receive proper management.

Conference participants will learn about: abandoned mine reforestation, forest insects and diseases, invasive plant species, fisher reintroductions, woodlot management, forest finance, timber marketing, wood energy, forest conservation, and more.

To register or for more information contact Dave Jackson at the Centre County Cooperative Extension office at 814-355-4897 or Tim Pierson at the McKean County Cooperative Extension Office at 814-887-5613.  The registration fee is $30.00 which covers speakers, breaks, a luncheon, and educational materials.  The deadline for registration is Friday, February 29.  Participants must be pre-registered.

The Allegheny Mountain Woodland Association (AMWA) invites you to attend an educational program on the Invasive Species Threats to Pennsylvania Forests. It will take place on Saturday, February 23, 9:00 AM to Noon at the Cambria County Extension Office, 499 Manor Drive Ebensburg (call 814-472-7986 for directions and additional information).

Pennsylvania is under attack by non-native species of insects that have the potential to decimate or even entirely eradicate species of trees.  The white ash and our state tree, the eastern hemlock, are specific targets, but no species are entirely safe, especially in areas where major infestations occur.

Dr. Donald A. Eggen, Forest Health Manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), will address the hemlock woolly adelgid, emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, and other invasive insect threats to Pennsylvania’s trees and forests. A panel of local foresters will join Dr. Eggen to respond to questions and provide guidance on local resources for home and woodlot owners and other concerned residents. 

The program is free for all AMWA members and $5 for all others. Nonmembers may choose to enroll for the annual membership fee of $15. They will then be able to attend this workshop for free, and also attend the remainder of 2008 programs free or at a reduced rate. Membership applications will be processed at the door on the day of the event.

 Please telephone 814-472-7986 to register (or email theamwa@yahoo.com). While advance registration is not required, it aids in planning for materials and refreshments, which will be provided at no additional charge.

In the fall, hunters begin to scout the landscape for acorns, which are mast – literally, forest food – and critically important to many wildlife species. Every squirrel, turkey, deer, and bear hunter and many bird watchers know that finding acorns may increase their chances of finding wildlife.   read more

Early estimates indicate the pests, which had been in decline for several years, bounced back to defoliate a million acres in Pennsylvania. Lehigh County was relatively untouched but Monroe County, with its abundance of oaks — a gypsy moth favorite — was among the hardest-hit areas in the state and the nation.  full story

In the past few years, the state Bureau of Forestry’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been working to eradicate this so-called “Tree of Heaven” from Pine Creek Valley in western Lycoming County.   read more