Schuylkill County Municipal Authority was recognized recently as a forest steward.

Forest stewardship is the wise management and use of forest resources to ensure their health and productivity for years to come.Frank P. Snyder, service forester for the Bureau of Forestry, State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, presented the award to Patrick M. Caulfield, executive director and Amy S. Batdorf, environmental manager of the authority.The National Forest Stewardship Program was initiated by the National Association of State Foresters. The program was authorized in the Forestry Title of the 1995 Farm Bill and is administered through the U.S. Forest Service. In Pennsylvania, the program is directed by Department of Community and Natural Recourses, Bureau of Forestry, with guidelines from a stewardship steering committee.The Bureau of Forestry has enlisted the help of Penn State to address the education and awareness aspects of the program.Timothy Ladner, district forester for the Weiser Forest District of DCNR, Bureau of Forestry, said Schuylkill County Municipal Authority started the process of becoming a forest steward by having a forest stewardship plan developed on 273 acres of their land in Tremont Township. The Weiser Forest District covers Carbon, Dauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill and Lehigh counties.Snyder said Schuylkill County Municipal Authority is managing their forest for watershed protection and high quality water.