Pennsylvania Statutes Title 53 P.S. Municipal and Quasi-Municipal Corporations § 67207. Forest lands

(a) Townships may acquire, by purchase, gift or lease, and hold tracts of land covered with forest or tree growth, or suitable for the growth of trees, and administer the tracts under the direction of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  The tracts may be of any size suitable for the purpose and may be located inside or outside the township limits.

(b) When the board of supervisors intends to acquire any lands for forests, it shall so declare by an ordinance, setting forth all facts and conditions relating to the proposed action.

(c) Upon the acquisition of any forests or lands suitable for forests, the board of supervisors shall notify the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources which may make rules for the government and proper administration of the lands as may be necessary.  The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall publish the rules, declare the uses of the forest under the intent of this article and make provision for its administration, maintenance, protection and development as necessary.  The rules governing the administration of the forests shall have for their main purpose the producing of a continuing township revenue by the sale of forest products.

(d) All revenue and emoluments arising from the forests shall be paid into the general township fund.

(e) Township forests may be used by the public as general outing or recreation grounds, subject to the rules of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources governing their administration and rules adopted by the board of supervisors not inconsistent with law and the rules of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

(f) When the board of supervisors decides to sell or lease any township forest, or part thereof, it shall so declare by an ordinance, setting forth all the facts and conditions relating to the proposed action.  No ordinance shall be effective until it has been approved by a majority vote of the electorate at the next ensuing municipal or general election.  Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the board of supervisors, at its discretion, by resolution, from allowing the selective harvesting of forest products for the purpose of properly caring for and maintaining a township forest.

(g) The board of supervisors may, on behalf of the township, accept the title to lands which may be donated to the township for any of the purposes mentioned in this article.