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Pennsylvania’s Wildlife and Wild Places: Our Outdoor Heritage in Peril

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In Pennsylvania, sprawling development consumes 350 acres per day and that pace may be accelerating. The sights, sounds, smells and experiences that distinguish rural Pennsylvania and bring Pennsylvanians outside to hunt, fish, and wildlife watch are being lost forever. The report suggests five recommendations to preserve Pennsylvania outdoor heritage, maintain the economic value of wildlife-linked recreation, and sustain rural economies that depend on forests, farms, and outdoor tourism.

  • Wildlife is a multibillion dollar industry in Pennsylvania. Hunting, fishing and wildlife related recreation generates almost $6 billion a year for the state economy.
  • The state’s forests and fields support 14 million hunting days and a billion dollars spent on related travel, equipment, lodging and food.
  • The state’s rivers, lakes, creeks and ponds support 18 million fishing days, which bring $800 million into the state’s economy
  • Wildlife habitat brings Pennsylvanians outside for 19 million days and a billion dollars spent of on wildlife watching and photographing.
  • Poorly planned development and unchecked sprawl threaten the land that support wildlife related recreation. Sprawl consumes 350 acres per day and that pace may be accelerating. The sights, sounds, smells and experiences that distinguish rural Pennsylvania and bring Pennsylvanians outside to hunt, fish, and wildlife watch are being lost forever.

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Pennsylvania_s_Wildlife_and_Wild_Places_Our_Outdoor_Heritage_in_Peril.pdf
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Year: 2003

Author(s): Ben Moyer

Organization/Source: Pennsylvania Wild Resource Conservation Fund, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Topic tags: Economic Impacts of Sprawl and Smart Growth