Penn State Extension, in partnership with DCNR Bureau of Forestry, The Woodland Owners of the Clarion and Allegheny Valley, and the Clarion County Forest Stewardship Committee has announced the 2019 Clarion Forest Landowner Conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Clarion University Grunenwald Science & Technology Center located along Greenville Avenue in Clarion.

The cost is $25 per person if registered by February 1. After that, the price goes to $30 per person. Students can attend the conference for $10. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The fee includes lunch, refreshments, and door prizes. Pre-registration is required and the deadline to register is February 8.

Pennsylvania has nearly 17 million acres of forests covering 60 percent of the state’s land area. The largest share of Pennsylvania’s forest is privately owned, accounting for more than 70 percent of the forested acres (12.5 million acres). Estimates put the number of private forest owners at more than 600,000. That’s approximately one in eight households. The decisions these owners make today will greatly affect all the benefits we receive from our forests now and in the future.

Pennsylvania’s forests support a forest products industry that is a key component of the state’s economy. They also provide habitat for a diversity of plants and wildlife, serve as a place to recreate, and are a source of beauty. Our forests also help to purify the air we breathe and the water we drink. The forests of Pennsylvania are a renewable resource. Plan to attend this year’s conference to learn how you can properly manage your forest to ensure it provides continued benefits into the future.

This year’s conference will have nine different sessions that will provide valuable information for Pennsylvania’s forest landowners. Topics include Invasive Plant ID and Management, Deer-proof Landscaping, Improving Wildlife Habitat, Deer Impacts on Forests, Spotted Lanternfly, and more.

Speakers include folks from Penn State Extension, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Western PA Conservancy, USDA Forest Service, and the Foundation for Sustainable Forests.

Participants can register online by going to https://extension.psu.edu/forest-landowner-conference. The complete agenda, registration details, and other information can be found at the website. To register by phone, call 877-345-0691.

The final deadline to register is February 8.