Who We Are
The dedicated members of Save Pennsylvania’s Forest Coalition, or SPF, are focused on achieving the same common goal: to protect Pennsylvania’s forests for future generations. It is SPF’s undertaking to improve, preserve, conserve, and negotiate a better tomorrow for the forest.
Our Mission
We strive to...
- Prevent further industrialization of Pennsylvania forests from oil and gas development.
- Encourage ecosystem management and low-impact use of Pennsylvania forests.
- Champion existing benefits of Pennsylvania forests and their connection to water quality and climate mitigation.
- Underscore current and future climate impacts to Pennsylvania forests.
Our History
June 2013
In June 2013, several organizations came together to protect the Clarence Moore lands region of the Loyalsock State Forest after learning of an impending development plan proposed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation to the Pennsylvania DCNR. Public outcry ensued, and the Coalition’s first action was to support opposition to the development plan at a DCNR public hearing held in Williamsport on June 3, 2013.
First Meeting
The fledgling organization’s first meeting took place three days later, emerging as the Save the Loyalsock Coalition. Long-term goals were identified, which included no drilling in the Clarence Moore lands (CM lands) and a stop to additional drilling and industrialization of all Pennsylvania state forests.
Early Successes
Several strategies and tactics were employed to reach these goals, including legislative efforts, agency meetings, and especially increased public awareness. Governor Tom Corbett’s unsuccessful reelection campaign and the eventual downturn of the oil and gas industry helped ease the immediate pressure to develop the CM lands. When Governor Tom Wolf took office in January 2015, the CM lands remained undeveloped with no apparent development agreement in place.
A New Approach
However, the threat to the CM lands remained, so organization members set new strategies with the same over-arching goal: prevent drilling and development in the CM lands. A secondary goal, to engender a DCNR policy or regulatory change giving the public a greater say in public lands decision-making regarding natural gas development, was also identified. The Coalition continued its work through several actions to increase public awareness and engagement.
Transformation
At a members meeting in March 2017, it was agreed that the time had come for the Coalition to revisit its goals and mission, so a volunteer steering committee was formed to examine options. After a lengthy process of exploration by the dedicated steering committee, in January 2019 governance documents, a new and broader-reaching mission statement, and fresh funding were in place. This newly organized group, Save Pennsylvania’s Forests Coalition, is ready to continue the effort to protect the still undeveloped Clarence Moore lands of the Loyalsock State Forest, along with many other threatened state forest lands across Pennsylvania.
Our Leadership
Save Pennsylvania’s Forests Coalition is guided by a steering committee of representatives from our member organizations. The 2019 SPF steering committee members are:
FracTracker Alliance studies, maps, and communicates the risks of oil and gas development to protect the planet and support renewable energy transformation. The organization provides timely and provocative data, ground-breaking analysis, and visual tools – including a mobile app and web app – to increase understanding of the harms to human health and the environment posed by hydrocarbon extraction, infrastructure, transport, and processing.
Keystone Trails Association, a volunteer-directed public service organization, is a federation of membership organizations and individuals dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania, and to representing and advocating the interests and concerns of the Pennsylvania hiking community.
The PA Forest Coalition is a grassroots organization of hunters, hikers, anglers, birders and other conservationists who believe in the PFC mission of Good Stewardship of Our Public Lands. Since one of the most effective ways to accomplish this mission is to use the law, we are allied with PEDF, the PA Environmental Defense Foundation, to force the Governor to remediate the degradation from gas drilling.
PennFuture is leading the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania and beyond. We are protecting our air, water and land, and empowering citizens to build sustainable communities for future generations. Our priorities include climate, energy, water, air, and community.
The Responsible Drilling Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit education and advocacy coalition based in Lycoming County on the west branch of the Susquehanna River. RDA focuses on shale gas development issues regionally and nationally, as well as hastening the advent of a global economy based on clean energy.
The Sierra Club PA Chapter is one of the only member-led statewide environmental organizations in Pennsylvania and we believe our open spaces, clean water, and natural resources should be protected so that current and future generations may enjoy them. In addition to our offices in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, we have nine active regional groups all across the state that help us explore, enjoy, and protect our state’s many environmental resources and fight for safe and livable communities.
Our Supporters
