Working in partnership with Hamilton Township landowner Don Stabler, the Land Conservancy of Adams County has placed 80.16 acres of farmland under a conservation easement, ensuring the land will remain undeveloped in perpetuity, in accordance with the landowner’s wishes. When Don Stabler received his parents’ farm last year, he knew he wanted to read more
Lorna Atkinson Selected to Lead Radnor Conservancy Board
Join Radnor Conservancy in congratulating Lorna Atkinson in assuming the role of president of its board of directors. Laura Luker, previous President, remains an active member of the board. Atkinson has lived in Radnor since 2007 and has three children currently attending Radnor Elementary, Radnor Middle, and Radnor High School. She has served on the Board of the Radnor read more
Ensuring the Permanency of Parks and Other Public Lands
On October 19, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association published the final version of the first edition of the Model Declaration of Public Trust. People rely on their parks and other public open spaces as stable, reliable places of comfort, rest, and renewal in their lives. They expect that these places will always be there for them. In Pennsylvania, this expectation is read more
Guarding Easements from Mortgage Foreclosures and, if Applicable, Supporting Tax Benefits
When a mortgage precedes an easement on a property, a foreclosure of that mortgage can wipe out the easement, clearing the property of any requirements for conservation (in the case of a conservation easement) or public access (in the case of a trail easement). This does happen! To guard against this, the mortgage holder needs to sign a non-disturbance agreement, which allows read more
Pennsylvania General Assembly Protects Conservation Easements from Irresponsible Exercise of Eminent Domain
Following votes in the Pennsylvania House (177-15) and Senate (37-12), Governor Tom Wolf signed HB 2468 into law as Act 45 of 2018 on June 24. The bill, which was introduced in early June by Representatives Warren Kampf, Kate Harper, and Marcy Toepel, establishes for conservation easements a crucial new safeguard: school districts, county and local municipal governments, and read more
Census Report: PA Land Trusts Expand Conserved Land by 36%
The 2017 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report highlights the success of land trusts across the state (as of 12/31/17) and includes the latest land trust rankings. Download the full report here. The biennial census found that, between January 2008 and December 2017, Pennsylvania land trusts: Expanded the lands they have conserved by 36% Conserved 189,000 acres of read more
Wildlands Conservancy Protects 72 Acres in the Poconos
In December, Wildlands Conservancy permanently protected 72 acres of woodlands and wetlands situated in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County. The acquired acreage expands Wildlands Conservancy's 1,300-acre Thomas Darling Preserve at Two Mile Run along Route 940 in Blakeslee. This acquisition permanently preserves the forests and streams that are critical to the sustained health read more
Wildlands Conservancy Protects Final 1.5 Acres of South Mountain Preserve
In September, Wildlands Conservancy permanently protected the final 1.5 acre inholding of their Emmaus-based South Mountain Preserve. Situated in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, within the existing 350 acre nature preserve, the 1.5 acre tract is significant for the stewardship continuity it brings to South Mountain Preserve, a priority landscape for the Lehigh Valley and read more
Delaware Highlands Conservancy Welcomes New Executive Director, Diane Rosencrance
On September 1, 2016, The Delaware Highlands Conservancy welcomed Diane Rosencrance as its new Executive Director. Formerly a Senior Director at Natural Lands Trust, Diane has an extensive background in land protection initiatives and has been an active partner with the Conservancy in many of its regional activities. "Diane's twenty years’ experience in the field of land read more
Lancaster Farmland Trust Partners with Turkey Hill Dairy to Preserve Local Farm
Lancaster Farmland Trust is excited to join Turkey Hill Dairy in their "Preserve a Farm" campaign, which aims to preserve a 63-acre Amish farm in East Lampeter Township. The campaign is part of the local business's 85th anniversary celebration and inspired by a new line of drinks call "Haymakers," based upon an old recipe to help farmers quench their thirst. Under the read more
Lacawac Sanctuary & Field Station Requests Assistance with Baseline Data Collection
Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station is undertaking a project to compile baseline data for Pennsylvania's freshwater lakes, rivers and streams into a central database. This project is designed to aid in climate change research, as well as future projects and efforts focused on the health of Pennsylvanian freshwater. Organizations who may be able to assist are asked to read read more
Senior Farmland Preservation Administrator with Montgomery County Planning Commission Retires
Until her retirement on June 17th, 2016, Elizabeth Emlen worked for over two decades to preserve many farms in Montgomery County in her position as the county’s dedicated Senior Farmland Preservation Administrator. Elizabeth arrived at the Montgomery County Planning Commission in April 1997 with a degree in Agriculture from Cornell University, as well as direct experience read more
Winners Announced for Delaware Highlands Conservancy Scholarships
[Hawley, PA and Bethel, NY--] The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has awarded its annual “Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Yeaman Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000 to Daniel Smith, a 2016 graduate of Delaware Valley High School, and the “Vanessa Van Gorder Memorial Scholarship” in the amount of $1,000 to Molly Mowatt, a 2016 graduate of Wallenpaupack Area High School. The read more
Hawk Mountain Welcomes New Communications Specialist, Gigi Romano
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary recently announced that Gigi Romano, of Allentown, will serve as the Sanctuary’s new Communications Specialist, taking over the communications duties recently handled by Director of Communication & Grants, Mary Linkevich. Linkevich has accepted a new position and departs in July. Romano will be responsible for social media, website management, read more
Wildlands Conservancy Acquires 22 Acres Along the Kittatinny Ridge: A Credit to the Legacy of Conservationist Charlie Nehf
Wildlands Conservancy, the premier nonprofit land trust of the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh River watershed, recently announced the permanent protection of 22 acres of woodlands situated along the Kittatinny Ridge (Blue Mountain) in Washington Township, Lehigh County. The acquired acreage was transferred to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to expand State Game Lands #217. Most read more