introduction - Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program

COOPER TOWNSHIPCooper Township lies between the West Branch Susquehanna River, its northern boundary, andMoshannon Creek, which forms the township boundary to the east and south. Due to the extent of stripmining in Cooper Township, there are substantial challenges to the ecological health of the landscape.Natural forest cover is relatively low and extremely fragmented in pattern: total forest cover is 53%, butcore forest habitat is only 21%, and roadless core habitat is 14%. Without extensive restoration work,formerly stripped areas typically offer degraded habitat conditions for many species and may act as abarrier for the movement of some. Conservation priorities to improve the ecological health of thetownship would be forest stewardship to improve contiguity and ecosystem health of forested areas, andrestoration of mined areas. A small portion of the Moravian Run – Alder Run LCA is at the eastern edgeof the township; for a description of this area see page 33.68