Environmental Justice in Pennsylvania

12/03/2023

11/30/2023

Crew members are now being hired for the 2024 Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps 9-month young adult crews across the state.

Complete conservation and recreation projects Pennsylvania state parks and forests and gain paid work experience, skills training, professional development, and environmental education opportunities.

Learn more and apply ➡️ https://bit.ly/2FUPHdR.

11/28/2023

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION & SOIL BUILDING

Ecological succession is a process of change in ecosystems that affect the structure of the species over time.

1. Each community creates conditions that subsequently allow next communities to adapt to a habitat.

2. Gradually, the decomposition of biomass contributes to soil formation.

3. When mature soil is formed and enough amount of nutrients become available the climax community (stable ecosystem e.g. a forest), is attained.

4. A climax community will persist in a given location until novel disturbances occur.

Microbiome consortia are an important part of this process.

- In agricultural soils that are regularly tilled, the weight of fungi is less than that of bacteria (that better tolerate disturbances).

- In grassland areas, there is around an equal distribution of bacteria and fungi

- The weight of fungi present in forest soils is much greater than the weight of bacteria.

Agricultural intensification has led to practices that may decrease soil organic carbon (SOC) and changes the natural cycling of nutrients in the soil. The adaptation of regenerative farming practices can thus help to avoid soil disturbance and leave room for natural soil formation processes.

Following stages of secondary succession, soil cores demonstrating the development of a litter and humus layer on sandy soil in regenerating boreal forest after clearance for agriculture.

11/27/2023

🌻🌻

11/23/2023

The statewide fi****ms deer hunting season begins this Saturday, November 25, includes a Sunday hunting day of November 26, and ends Saturday, December 9.

All Pennsylvania state forests and 100 out of the 124 Pennsylvania state parks are open to hunting.

If you are not hunting and heading out to enjoy Penn’s Woods, be sure to be seen and safe.

We hope all hunters have a safe and enjoyable hunting season!

09/29/2023

After a long spring drought, timely summer rainfall and moderate temperatures helped to green the canopy of Penn’s Woods, setting the stage for a very colorful autumn display.

Fall temperatures seemed to arrive earlier than in recent years, compelling noticeable changes throughout Commonwealth forests.

Peak color throughout most of the Keystone State should center around mid-October. 🍂🍁

Learn more in the 2023 Week 1 Pennsylvania Fall Foliage report ➡️ http://bit.ly/2OCvs8C.

09/11/2023

Honored to be able to speak about our Environment in a way that's basic and easy to understand. Please take a moment and read my interview along with the awesome people who work for PA Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Environmental Justice.
Take care of OUR MOTHER, SHE'S ALL WE GOT!

The new policy applies to inspections and enforcement, as well as engagement. It goes into effect this month but is still open for comment.

09/05/2023

Soo true

08/08/2023