Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas

The Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural areas comprise 4,131 acres of "virgin" hemlock-northern hardwoods forest on the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in northwestern Pennsylvania. The area is composed of actually two tracts: the Tionesta Scenic Area - 2,018 acres (northern portion); and the Tionesta Research Natural Area - 2,113 acres (southern portion).

The Tionesta areas were once part of a colonial grant to the Holland Land Company that was later held by small tanneries in Sheffield, Pennsylvania, as a reserve for hemlock tanbark. In 1936, the federal government purchased lands now included in the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas from the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company. On July 31, 1940, the Chief of the Forest Service designated the Tionesta Scenic Area and the Tionesta Natural Research area to preserve this large remnant of uncut forest. In 1973, the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Areas were added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks as the "largest virgin forest in the hemlock-white pine/northern hardwoods forest region of North America."

Although the Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural areas contain large hemlock and beech trees that are more than 300 years old, some changes have affected the vegetation that you see today. For example, at least three tornados have blown over substantial numbers of trees in 1808, 1872, and most recently in 1985 when about 1,000 acres were blown over.

A long-term over abundance of white-tailed deer has substantially reduced the diversity and abundance of understory shrubs, trees, and wildflowers. Insect and disease outbreaks such as the chestnut blight, elm spanworm and the beech bark disease complex have increased the mortality of overstory trees. The result is a forest that is similar to the forest that once covered much of the Allegheny Plateau but also different in many ways due to the many types of disturbances.

One additional significant disturbance was overcome with WPC's help. Oil and gas development was beginning to encroach upon the virgin forest because ANF did not own the subsurface mineral rights. After much negotiations with the developmeny company, WPC was able to acquire those rights under the Research Natural Area in order to end new gas well drilling.

For more information and directions, go to the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources (DCNR) web site. Today's photo is from the WPC Resource Conservation archives.

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