The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that its Wild Resource Conservation Program are accepting applications for grants to protect the state’s native biodiversity. Overseen by DCNR, the program safeguards Pennsylvania’s non-game animals, native plants, and their habitat. Grant applications will be accepted in three read more
6
August
5
August
PALTA Board Member Elections
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association board member elections were held this past June. We extend our congratulations to Oliver Bass of Natural Lands, elected to his first full term as Board Vice President (Oliver was previously elected to serve out a partial term in 2019); Also, to Ellen Ferretti, Executive Director of Brandywine Conservancy and Tom Saunders, President and read more
5
August
Longtime Staff Member of Brandywine Conservancy Receives Recognition from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (PALTA) recently recognized the Brandywine Conservancy’s John Theilacker, AICP Certified Planner, with an award for his 22 years of conservation advocacy and land use planning work throughout the Commonwealth. During his time at the Brandywine Conservancy, as an associate director, Theilacker has worked tirelessly helping Pennsylvania read more
27
July
Department of Environmental Protection’s 2020 Small Business Advantage Grant Accepting Applications
The Department of Environmental Protection’s 2020 Small Business Advantage Grant is now accepting applications. This grant provides Pennsylvania small businesses the opportunity to acquire energy efficient or pollution prevention technologies with a 50% reimbursement matching grant for equipment or materials. Pennsylvania businesses with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent read more
27
July
Permanent Protection for North Coventry Farm that is Home to 400-Year-Old “Penn Oak”
Natural Lands announced the preservation of Great Oak Farm, a 10-acre property in North Coventry Township, Chester County. The property includes meadows and forest, and about 640 feet of Pigeon Creek. The property was named for its magnificent white oak that pre-dates European colonization. Now protected with a conservation easement, the farm will never be developed. “When read more
27
July
Nominate a Great Public Place or Great Neighborhood in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA PA) will be recognizing “Great Public Spaces” and “Great Neighborhoods” in 2020. Overall, Great Places are unique, memorable places that display a wealth of best practices in community planning, serve as a community focal point, and strengthen the local economy. Everyone should be proud of the “great” planning read more
23
July
Congress Passes Historic Great American Outdoors Act
The United States House of Representatives made history today by passing the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The Act passed with bipartisan support and will be sent to the President’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law. The following statement can be attributed to Tom Cors, director of read more
23
July
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Pennsylvania Release Draft Plan to Conserve Bats on State Lands
As bats in Pennsylvania continue to recover from the deadly disease white-nose syndrome and other threats, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pennsylvania Game Commission, and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) are working together to conserve federally protected Indiana and northern long-eared bats on nearly 4 million acres of read more
23
July
DCNR Bureau of Forestry Strategic Plan Stakeholder Input Session with PALTA and Friends
The PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry is in the process of writing a new strategic plan that will set the bureau’s mission and overarching goals. It will guide how the bureau provides leadership in forest management and conservation on both public and private lands in urban and rural areas. The bureau is conducting a series of stakeholder group consultations to gather input during read more
20
July
Delaware Highlands Conservancy Hosts Virtual Fundraising Auction July 30th through August 13th
The Delaware Highlands Conservancy announces a virtual fundraising auction to support land and water conservation in the Upper Delaware River region. The auction will be open for bidding for two weeks, from 12pm on Thursday, July 30th until 12pm on Thursday, August 13th, and is hosted at www.biddingowl.com/DHConservancy. The auction features two dozen items, from exciting read more
17
July
American Battlefield Trust, North American Land Trust Partner to Save Revolution’s Brandywine Battlefield
The American Battlefield Trust and North American Land Trust (NALT) have launched a fundraising campaign to protect a key portion of one of the critical battles on our country's journey to independence, Brinton Run Preserve on the Brandywine Battlefield. This 72-acre property will be owned and maintained by NALT, marking the first time the organization, typically focused on read more
17
July
2019 Biennial Census Report
The 2019 biennial census report was recently released. Highlights from the report found that between 2010 and 2019, land trusts in Pennsylvania: Expanded the lands they have conserved by 35%; Conserved 207,000 acres of land (323 sq. mi. - roughly the size of Lehigh County); On average, conserved 57 acres every day; Increased their acreage protected with perpetual read more
15
July
French Creek Valley Conservancy Receives Property Donation
The 21-acre Robert Brace Nature Reserve was recently donated to the French Creek Valley Conservancy by Robert’s sons. The parcel had been in the Brace family for several generations and is part of a much larger working farm on which the Brace family raised cattle for milking and beef production. The property is located off of Kennedy Hill Road in Union Township, Crawford County read more
9
July
Land Added to Expand Nockamixon State Park
Natural Lands announced in early July 2020 the purchase of two properties totaling just over 14 acres that were then transferred as additions to Nockamixon State Park. The properties, which are both immediately adjacent to the Park, were at risk for development but are now protected forever. “Over the past few months, as the coronavirus turned things upside down, we’ve read more
9
July
Westmoreland Conservancy Expands King Reserve by 26 Acres
Westmoreland Conservancy announced in July 2020 that, after a process that took seven years, they have expanded King Reserve by 26 acres. The largest of the conservancy's holdings, the now 122-acre parcel is also one of the Conservancy's most biologically diverse, having the greatest variety of plants. The reserve features a small intermittent stream named Sylvan Run (now read more
