In early December 2019, Wildlands Conservancy announced the permanent protection of 9.2 acres of property along the Lehigh River in the Lehigh Valley. Situated in Washington Township, Lehigh County, the riverfront property straddles the D&L Trail. Wildlands purchased the property with cooperation from Edwin L. Berger for immediate transfer to Lehigh read more
Conservation Projects
12
December
3
December
DHC and Partners Protect 3,600 Acres
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is pleased to announce that 3,683 acres of forestland have now been permanently protected in Pike County. Three hunt clubs—Mink Pond Club, Maskenozha Rod and Gun Club, and Lehman Lake Rod and Gun Club—together form the Northeast Connection: thousands of contiguous, unfragmented acres of forests, lakes, and wetlands along the Little Bushkill read more
25
November
DCNR Invests $14.3 Million to Protect 10,000 Acres
On November 19, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced the investment of $14.3 million in 41 land acquisition projects that will protect 10,051 acres of open space and natural areas through the Community Conservation Partnership Grants Program. The investments were funded by a combination of state and federal sources, including the read more
14
November
ClearWater Conservancy Preserves Smith Trust Property
ClearWater Conservancy has finalized the sale of the 18.7 acre Smith Trust property in Halfmoon Township to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). The property near Marengo Road and along Halfmoon Creek was acquired by ClearWater in January 2017 from the Smith Trust with the intention that the property would become part of the Scotia Barrens (State Game Lands 176). This read more
13
November
Natural Lands Partners with Tyler Arboretum to Save Ecosystem
On a sunny autumn afternoon in late October, more than a dozen volunteers from non-profits Natural Lands and Tyler Arboretum joined forces to collect native plant seeds at Willisbrook Preserve, owned and managed by Natural Lands. The seeds will be propagated at Tyler Arboretum, and then planted at both Tyler’s Pink Hill and Natural Lands’ Willisbrook Preserve as part of a joint read more
13
November
WPC Acquires Easement on 309 Acres in Venango County
More forestland along the Allegheny River in President Township, Venango County is now permanently protected, thanks to a donation of a conservation easement on 309 acres to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The private property has fields and is mostly forested with a mix of white pine, black cherry, and red maple, and is bordered to the south by the Allegheny River—a read more
11
November
Willistown Conservation Trust Protects Harris Property
The map of permanently conserved land in the Willistown area just got a little greener, thanks to Lawrie Harris. Harris donated a legacy conservation easement to the Willistown Conservation Trust on November 11, protecting her 12.7 acres on Twinbrook Road from development forever. Located on Twinbrook Road in Easttown Township, in what is known as the Leopard Tract, the gently read more
7
November
Wildlands Conservancy Opens Newest Section of Jordan Creek Greenway
In November, together with partners, Wildlands Conservancy celebrated the official opening of the newest section of the Jordan Creek Greenway in South Whitehall Township. This section features two beautiful boardwalks, views of Jordan Creek, preserved open space, and the township’s historic covered bridge. The greenway has been underway since 2011. Once completed, it will read more
7
November
WPC Protects 265 Acres; Transfers to State Forest
On November 6, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the protection of 265 acres of forests and steep mountain ridgeline in Haines Township, Centre County. The property was immediately transferred to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Bureau of Forestry to become an addition to the 193,000-acre Bald Eagle State Forest. Located read more
4
November
WPC Adds 390 Acres to Conservation Area
On November 4 the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy announced the permanent protection of 390 acres in Erie County that have been added to the Conservancy’s West Branch French Creek Conservation Area, expanding the natural area to nearly 1,000 acres. These newly protected acres are located within the 1,250-square mile French Creek watershed on two properties in Venango read more
18
October
Groups Partner to Conserve 22 Acres Near Hawk Mountain
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, in partnership with The Conservation Fund and Berks Nature, has acquired 22 acres of land adjacent to its Acopian Center for Conservation Learning. The undeveloped cropland will be incorporated into the Sanctuary’s landholdings and improved as meadow and grasslands with minimal tree plantings. The acreage is protected forever through a conservation read more
18
October
ALT Protects Land Along Montour Trail
Local land conservation non-profit Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) has acquired 38.5 acres of woodlands along the Montour Trail and Montour Run in Moon Township. ALT finalized the purchase of this green space today after a year-long fundraising campaign ensuring that the natural landscape along this portion of the popular trail and stream will remain forever wild. “This read more
15
October
Foundation for Sustainable Forests Protects 55 Acres in Crawford County
The Foundation for Sustainable Forests (FSF) has protected 55 acres of working woodlands in perpetuity thanks to a fortunate series of events and the generosity of an inspiring couple in Virginia. Thompsons’ Wood, as it will now be called, is the combination of an adjacent forest already conserved and managed by FSF and this newly acquired parcel, totaling 179 acres read more
11
October
2,115 Acres of Farmland Preserved
The farms protected at Thursday’s meeting of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board represent targeted investments in the future of farming, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Pennsylvanians share a connection to our farmland—we reaffirmed that commitment 30 years ago with the creation of a state farmland preservation program, and through state read more
11
October
Hollow Oak Land Trust Acquires Two Trail Easements; Finishes First Phase of Trout Run Trails
Two New Easements Throughout 2019, Hollow Oak Land Trust worked with both the Forest Grove Sportsmen and the Montour Trail Council to negotiate trail easements to accompany the planned bridge construction over Montour Run. Acquiring both of these easements will allow Hollow Oak to build a connecting trail from Montour Woods Conservation Area to the Montour Trail at read more
