Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area

Straddling Peters Mountain, the 803-acre Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Area is dominated by large hardwood trees. This large block of nearly unbroken forest is a haven for wildlife like forest warblers and other deep woods animals. A main attraction to the conservation area is the elaborate trail system which connects to the Appalachian Trail on the northern slope of Peters Mountain. After graduation from Yale in 1948, Joseph "Joe" Ibberson was recruited and hired by the Department of Forests and Waters, Bureau of Forestry, to develop the first forest management plans for the 2 million acres of Pennsylvania state forest land. By 1955, all of the forests were mapped and had management plans. Joe then created the Division of Forests Advisory Services which further expanded the management plans and targeted the preservation of endangered species and wetlands. From this work grew the Division of Forest Pest Management, which became a recognized leader in rearing and releasing predators and parasites to effectively control forest pests. Joe started a forest genetics program that reorganized the tree nurseries to produce large quantities of desirable and improved species. He also began the service forester program and now there are foresters in many counties to aid private citizens in managing their forested land. In 1962, Joe began buying land to create a tree farm on which he practiced various forms of forest management. In 1977, Joe retired from the Bureau of Forestry but continued to actively tree farm his own property and serve as a forestry consultant. On December 9, 1998, he donated the land to the commonwealth. The stated purpose of the donation was to “recognize the need of people for healthful recreation and a place where they can learn about the environment on which they depend for quality of life.” It became the first conservation area in DCNR's Bureau of State Parks. Upon Joe’s death, an additional 450 acres of land was donated to the conservation area. That same year, Joe received the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Wildlife Conservation Award. In 1998, he received the American Forest Foundation’s Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year award for Pennsylvania. In 1999, Joe received their Outstanding Management of Resources Award for the northeastern states. To train foresters to help the state’s private woodland owners properly manage their forests, Joe endowed a chair at The Pennsylvania State University.  Joe continued to work with land owners across the commonwealth to participate in the conservation areas program until his death in 2011.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) protects and enhances the state’s natural, recreational, and cultural resources for current and future generations. We manage state parks and forests, support community recreation and conservation initiatives, provide science-based expertise on Pennsylvania’s ecological health, and promote outdoor experiences that enrich the lives of all residents and visitors.