The 12-county region called the “Pennsylvania Wilds,” which includes Clearfield County, contains the most valuable natural resources and wild lands in the state. It also is home to the darkest skies in the east, a 500,000-acre National Forest, the largest elk herd in the Northeast, 27 state parks, more than five million acres of forested land. It’s the birthplace of America’s lumber and oil industries and home to one of the most valuable hardwood forests in the world.
As secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources responsible for managing the long-term health, sustainability and economic use of our public state lands, I can tell you that it’s been a privilege and honor to visit and learn about the region that you call home.
I’ve learned the people of the region have a deep connection to its past. The region also has the largest block of lands between New York and Chicago open for public enjoyment -– which presents an opportunity for the future, both for sustained economic growth and continued investment in your communities.
While visiting the region over the last few years, Gov. Ed Rendell has talked with local citizens, tourism officials, business owners and legislators who understand the potential opportunity and attraction of the public lands. These conversations led to the birth of the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. And to support the initiative and local efforts in place, he directed DCNR to guide a strategic, comprehensive model for growth by partnering with community representatives and pulling together the necessary funding and support from other state agencies. For the past three years, DCNR and the leaders in your local communities in the Pennsylvania Wilds have been working together to discuss and identify local strengths, preserve local heritage and character, and plan for the future.
In the past, gains in the economy often have come at the expense of our natural resources. Our work together is already clearly demonstrating that conservation and economic development can work hand-in-hand. With conservation top of mind, we are beginning to create the infrastructure necessary to grow tourism and strengthen the local economy while maintaining the quality of our lands for future generations.
Tourists traveling to the Pennsylvania Wilds for its outdoor recreation and natural beauty will spur new businesses and services in major town centers like Ridgway, Williamsport, Lock Haven, Renovo, Warren, Bradford, DuBois and Coudersport. Development of a wood product industry will provide merchandise to travelers. River towns along the West Branch of the Susquehanna will thrive from the new recreational opportunities created with a cleaner river –- the result of major environmental investments. And for the first time, visitor facilities will emphasize the historical conservation story behind the rebirth of the forests and connect people with the natural world in new, exciting ways.
This is an important initiative for the region. Important enough that the editor of your local paper has committed space on these pages to keep you informed through a regular column. You’ll hear from local business owners, tourism officials, economic development experts and county planners across the 12-county region involved in the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. They will tell you what it’s like to be on the front lines of such a momentous, regional effort.
You’ll hear about the successes we’ve experienced and milestones we’ve reached so far, like hotel occupancy, which saw a 2.2 percent increase across the region in 2005 because of the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. And how local communities like Ridgway, with 24 new businesses in the past three years, are taking advantage of funding and marketing opportunities to benefit from the initiative.
You’ll meet the local people and decision makers who represent your community regionally and statewide -– from county planners and representatives on the Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team, to the recreation experts in our parks and forests. They are your voice.
It’s our hope that this column will keep you informed, tell you how you and your local community can get involved and, ultimately, explain how you can benefit from the Pennsylvania Wilds initiative. Your continued interest and support of the initiative is critical to its success and will be important to the region’s future.
GantDaily editor’s note: This is the first in a series of columns from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The columns will appear on GantDaily as they arrive from DCNR.