Dear Mr. Stotler (Dr. Trout),
Thank you for your interest in the management of State Forest Land. I appologize for taking so long to respond to your question. In your question below, you ask about DCNR, ANF, and PGC, my response is only for DCNR, Bureau of Forestry (BOF).
DCNR, Bureau of Forestry revised its State Forest Resource Management Plan several years ago. In this new plan you will find an explanation of the forest planning model that the BOF used to develop its current timber harvest schedule. Here is an excerpt from the plan introducing the timber harvest scheduling process:
Timber Harvest Scheduling
In previous forest resource plans the district timber harvest goals were based on the total number of acres in a state forest's commercial land base and a statewide 100-year rotation length. With the focus on ecological principles in this plan, bureau managers recognize that forest communities mature at varied rates. The bureau is committed to scheduling harvests over a range of rotation ages rather than adhering to one set rotation length. Additionally, the current forest has a large inventory of trees in later successional stages. This current forest structure is not sustainable for the long term. The focus of this plan is to begin balancing the age class distribution of the forest by regenerating forested stands leading to a sustainable forest structure, capture a range of rotation ages, and promote and ensure areas of forest that are managed on long rotations.
The Bureau of Forestry formed a partnership with the Pennsylvania State University's School of Forest Resources (PSU) in 1999 to develop a harvest scheduling model for planning harvests on each of the 20 forest districts. The model has provided the bureau with a tool to develop harvest schedules that consider the long-term sustainable flow of forest products and lead toward a desirable and sustainable forest structure in the future. The model schedules acres of state forest to receive timber harvests and will aid the bureau in achieving its silviculture and timber management goals. The goals specifically addressed by the model include:
1. To promote and maintain desired landscape conditions; including balancing the age class distribution of the multiple resource, commercial land base.
2. To ensure and maintain areas of older forest.
3. To provide economic and social benefits through a sustained yield of forest products.
4. To determine sustainable long-term timber harvest levels.
5. To promote silvicultural practices that sustain ecological and economic forest values.
6. To develop feasible timber management plans considering forest regeneration issues and resources available to the Bureau of Forestry.
For additional information please refer to the Plan, which is on the Internet: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/sfrmp/index.htm
Go to the Silviculture/Timber section for specifics on the BOF's timber management guidelines.
Feel free to contact me if you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Matt

Matthew J. Keefer
Chief, Forest Resource Planning
PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry