Scott Bearer encourages students to get involved protecting ecologically important lands and waters to preserve biodiversity. (Raquel Rust / The Clarion Call)

Forest ecologist and scientist Scott Bearer, Ph.D. encouraged Clarion students to “get involved and stay informed.” Representing The Nature Conservancy, Bearer presented dozens of students with good reasons to get involved on Monday night in the Science and Technology Center.

TNC leads the worldwide conservation effort, protecting ecologically important lands and waters. Its mission is the preservation of plant and animal biodiversity.

Operating in all 50 states and more than 30 countries, TNC’s more than one million members help protect 120 million acres and 5,000 miles of rivers.

Bearer emphasized the need for private land management in rural Pennsylvania.

“54 percent of Pennsylvania forests are privately owned. Of those, only 2 percent have management plans,” said Bearer.
Forestland covers 60 percent of the state.

“We have been degrading the forests by cutting down all the healthiest trees,” said Bearer, “and 50 years of deer over-browsing has been a problem.”

Bearer discussed other threats the forests face.

“Pests like the gypsy moth blight hundreds of acres every year,” said Bearer.

The gypsy moth was imported in 1869 in an endeavor to create an American silk industry.

“The emerald ash borer is also very dangerous to forests,” said Bearer.

Believed to have originated in China, the emerald ash borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the northeastern U.S. and Canada, according to emeraldashborer.info.com.

“For over 50 years, fire suppression in Appalachia has led to unnatural and dangerous ecological conditions,” said Bearer.

The long-term build up of organic material on the forest floors can lead to fires.

“In 2009, TNC helped to pass prescribed fire legislation at the state level,” said Bearer.

Prescribed fires are controlled by professionals and limited in scope. Forests also face pressure from developing energy industries.

Thousands of Marcellus shale natural gas wells have been installed across the state. The materials used in the extraction process can adversely affect the local environment.

“The future is now,” said Bearer, “but we have to do things the smart way.”

Several Earth Week activities are scheduled at Clarion. They include: “Birds of Prey,” 7 p.m. April 22 in Gemmell Student Complex; a Nature Art Show at Artfunkels April 23; and a tree planting at Bear Town Rocks, Clear Creek State Park and a recycling drive at Clarion County Park, April 24.