Season 6 | Episode 6
Landscape Change: Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks
June 1, 2025
Foresters are well-versed in managing forests at the stand level. But what happens when the goal shifts to influencing vegetation across an entire landscape? Scaling up silvicultural practices to drive broad ecological outcomes—like achieving a balanced age-class distribution or providing diverse bird habitats—adds layers of complexity. So, where do we start? Enter Dynamic Forest Restoration Blocks—a strategy that divides large forested areas into manageable, ecologically meaningful units. These blocks allow foresters to apply targeted management practices that align with broader conservation and restoration goals.
In this episode, we explore this innovative approach with two leading voices in the field: Jeff Larkin, professor in the Department of Biology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Forest Bird Advisor with the American Bird Conservancy, and Dan Heggenstaller, North Central Regional Forester with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Join us as they share insights on using this framework to achieve meaningful, landscape-scale change.
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Guests On This Episode
Jeff Larkin, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Conservation at Indiana University of Pennsylvania & Forest Bird Habitat Advisor for American Bird Conservancy
Dr. Jeff Larkin is a Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the Forest Birds Habitat Advisor for the American Bird Conservancy. He also serves as the science advisor and external lead for NRCS’s Working Lands for Wildlife– Deciduous Forest Framework. He received his B.A. in Biology from Ithaca College and his M.S. Forestry and Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Kentucky. His research and conservation projects often combine his expertise in forestry, wildlife ecology, and conservation implementation. Dr. Larkin has led numerous research and monitoring efforts that assist state and federal agencies and other conservation groups with understanding the ecology and associated forest management implications for birds. He dedicates significant time to developing and coordinating forest management initiatives on public and private lands intended to address forest threats and recover forest birds. In 2016, he was awarded the USDA-Abraham Lincoln Award for his contributions to private forest conservation in partnership with NRCS’s Working Land for Wildlife and in 2019 was recognized by the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for his efforts to help bridge wildlife science and implementation of forest management.
Dan Heggenstaller
Northcentral Regional Forester, Pennsylvania Game Commission
Dan is currently a Regional Forester for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northcentral Region. In that role he works with a team of biologists, foresters and land managers to improve wildlife habitat on State Game Lands. He has worked for the PGC in various roles since 2012. Prior to that he worked for Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a Private Lands Forester, assisting landowners with commercial and non-commercial forest management projects. He attended Penn State and holds B.S. degrees in Forest Biology and Watershed Management as well as an M.S. degree in Silviculture.
Larkin: A Collaborative Approach to Dynamic Forest Blocks – Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative YouTube channel
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