Over the past decade, The Conservation Fund has completed many projects in the region adding over 14,500 acres to the now 44,743 acres of protected land within Pinchot State Forest.  Most recently, as part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Enhance Penn’s Woods Initiative, roughly 8,000 acres were transferred to the State Forest.  

“These properties include nearly 13 square miles of Chesapeake Bay watershed lands as well as numerous perennial streams including Stafford Meadow Brook and Green Run. They will provide recreation space, watershed protection and wildlife habitat located just minutes from Scranton.”

—Ellen Ferretti, Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

The newly acquired property provides prime upland forest, several miles of waterways, significant wetland acreage and ideal habitat for black bear, bobcat, river otter, coyote, snowshoe hares and white-tailed deer. Thousands of acres surrounding popular recreation destinations, including the Seven Tubs Recreation Area in Luzerne County and Montage Mountain in Lackawanna County, are now protected  in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Metropolitan area.  These areas are open to hunters, hikers and all other state forest
recreational enthusiasts. 

“This project represents the ultimate success of more than a decade-long partnership between The Conservation Fund, DCNR, the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the counties to conserve more than 20,000 acres of the former Theta lands.  Conservation of these lands will ensure clean drinking water for, and provide prime recreational opportunities to residents of the greater Scranton and Wyoming Valley regions…More than 500,000 people live within a short drive of these lands – tens of thousands live within walking distance of the hiking, fishing, hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities that these lands provide.” 

— Todd McNew, Pennsylvania director of The Conservation Fund.

Learn More

Pinchot State Forest
Our Forestry Work
Places We Protect: Wild Havens