Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas, Allegheny National Forest

Wilderness designation for the 4,100-acre Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas old-growth forest and surrounding Allegheny National Forest land should be a priority. This is an extremely rare and ecologically invaluable remnant of eastern old-growth forest, but it is threatened by oil and gas drilling and logging that approaches, and has even occured within, its borders.

In 1997, the U.S. Forest Service characterized the Tionesta Research Natural Area as "one of the most valuable old-growth remnants in the eastern U.S. ...evidenced by the 10-fold increase in research activity ... over the past decade."

In a paper published in the October, 2001 Natural Areas Journal, the quarterly publication of the Natural Areas Association, the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness concept for protecting the rare 4,100-acre eastern old-growth forest through wilderness designation is outlined. Authored by FAW director Kirk Johnson, the paper is titled "A Proposal for Tionesta Wilderness Designation in the Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania, USA."

For further information on the Friends of Allegheny Wilderness Tionesta Wilderness Area proposal, please call (814) 723-0620, or email info@pawild.org.

220 Center Street  |  Warren, PA  |  16365  |  814.723.0620  |info@pawild.org