FSF & National Aviary researchers host Managing Forest Bird Habitat webinar
March 6, 2026
Your Impact: 2025 Annual Report
April 17, 2026
282 acres of forested land in Erie County’s Washington Township have been conserved by the Foundation for Sustainable Forests (FSF), a 501(c)(3) charitable land trust in Spartansburg, PA. Robert Crawford Memorial Forest, as it will be called, contains forest surrounding the headwaters of Conneautee Creek and Little Conneautee Creek, part of the greater French Creek watershed. Under the conservation protections, these lands will remain as sustainable working forests and cannot be subdivided, developed, or sold. Under FSF’s care, the property will be managed to maintain ecosystem health and resilience, and is open to the public for recreational activities such as hunting, hiking, and bird-watching.
Located north of Edinboro, the Robert Crawford Memorial Forest is an exceptional forest tract both for its size and condition. “The present health of the forest and rich diversity of species found within are a testament to the family’s careful stewardship of the property for over 60 years.” says Annie Maloney, FSF’s Executive Director. A former DCNR Erie County Service Forester, the late Tom Erdman, was instrumental in advising the family on the management of their forest for nearly 40 years; he introduced the family to FSF in 2021 as a potential partner in protecting the property’s natural character in perpetuity.
Earlier this year, the daughter of the property’s namesake, Susan Wellman, conveyed the property to FSF via charitable sale. The purchase was made possible with financial support by the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds.
The Foundation for Sustainable Forests looks forward to hosting a guided forestry walk at the Robert Crawford Memorial Forest on Saturday, September 19. Event details are available here: www.foundationforsustainableforests.org/events/
You can learn more about the history of Robert Crawford Memorial Forest and the family’s donation to FSF in our 2026 Spring Newsletter.
The mission of the Foundation for Sustainable Forests is to protect forested land and support forest livelihoods through practices that maintain the long-term health of the land. To date, FSF has conserved more than 4,250 acres of natural lands in Pennsylvania and New York; much of it is accessible to the public for recreational uses.
For more information, contact FSF directly at 814-694-5830 or [email protected].
