UNIVERSITY PARK — Hundreds of landowners, natural resources and forestry professionals, and conservationists interested in forests will gather at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center in State College March 6 to 8 to learn about forest health and how to better care for their woodlands.
The attraction will be two back-to-back events: the 2025 Forest Health Briefing and the 2025 Forest Landowners Conference, hosted by Penn State’s James C. Finley Center for Private Forests, Penn State Extension, the Division of Forest Health in the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry, and numerous partners. These educational and networking opportunities bring together people who want to know more about forests.
The Forest Health Briefing will occur from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6.
Designed for forestry and other natural resource management professionals, and others interested in forest health, the conference will review the status of Pennsylvania’s forest insect and disease problems and provide important forest health updates and information, organizers said.
Participants can learn about commonly used pesticides in forestry, remote sensing, native defoliators, vegetation outcomes of the deer forest study, nematodes, and the latest Pennsylvania insect and disease issues.
A free reception will occur from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 6.
The Forest Landowners Conference is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 7. The keynote dinner will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 7, for an additional fee.
Conference tours and workshops will occur from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. March 8 for an additional fee.
During the 66 presentations scheduled Friday, attendees can choose from a broad range of topics aimed at growing knowledge, building skills and increasing the enjoyment of their woods. Presenters will discuss healthy forests, managing wildlife, tending trees, legacy planning, pollinators, nuisance plants and pests, mushrooms, and other issues important to landowners.
Forest and wildlife topics covered will include administration and legal issues, foundational knowledge and youth education, management and stewardship, and products and services.
Participants at the Forest Health Briefing can earn Pennsylvania pesticide applicator recertification credits, Society of American Foresters continuing forestry education credits, International Society of Arboriculture continuing education units and Sustainable Forestry Initiative training units.
Organizers request that participants bring their pesticide applicator identification number, Society of American Foresters certified forester number, and/or International Society of Arboriculture arborist certification number to receive continuing education credits.
Participants can register through Feb. 26. Registration and conference details are available on the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu/fhb-flc. Individuals can register for one or both events.
The vision of the James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State is a world where stewardship practices sustain healthy and resilient private forests that contribute to the social, ecological and economic well-being of society. The Finley Center focuses on applied research, education and outreach to students, forest landowners, the forest-products industry, loggers, conservation districts, agencies, land trusts, nongovernmental organizations and the public.
Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses and communities.
