Press release by Manada Conservancy shared 14 October 2026
Manada Conservancy has permanently protected 127 acres in Jefferson Township through a conservation easement with the Doyle family, bringing nine previously separate parcels together under one conservation easement as part of a larger effort to conserve a connected and resilient landscape within the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape.
The Doyle property spans the north side of Peters Mountain and into Powells Valley below, less than two miles from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. The property is part of a larger network of forests and agricultural lands that, together, create a connected and resilient landscape.
The Kittatinny Ridge stretches 185 miles across the state and forms the first in a series of mountain ridges that make up the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape. Recognized as the most climate-resilient landscape in Pennsylvania and designated as a Global Important Bird Area, the Kittatinny Ridge and its contiguous forest cover provide ecosystem services essential to people and wildlife alike.
The Lenape people indigenous to Pennsylvania fittingly gave the Kittatinny its name, For the Doyles, protecting their piece of the landscape has been a decades-long effort. Beginning in the early 1980s, Terry and Valerie Doyle started connecting patches of the landscape in Jefferson Township on their own, purchasing one parcel In August 2026, the Doyles took an important next step in permanently protecting their land with a conservation easement with Manada Conservancy. “Bringing nine legally separate parcels together under a single conservation easement helps prevent future habitat fragmentation while maintaining a larger, contiguous block of land,” said Jennifer Dunlap, Manada Conservancy’s Land Protection Director.
The landowners also reported that protecting this property with Manada Conservancy Conservation easements are an important tool for preventing subdivision to conserve working lands and critical natural areas by protecting larger areas of land that can support sustainable agriculture, responsible forestry, and wildlife habitat.
The Doyles’ commitment demonstrates how landowners and the members who sustain Manada’s work help protect the larger conservation landscape. Their decision to permanently protect these 127 acres helps ensure that this part of the landscape will continue to benefit future generations. The conservation of the Doyle property adds to a growing network of protected lands that help maintain the connectivity and resilience of the Kittatinny Ridge landscape.
About Manada Conservancy
Founded in 1997, Manada Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust working to conserve the natural, agricultural and scenic lands of Dauphin County. The organization has permanently protected 4,200 acres through conservation easements and other land protection methods. Manada Conservancy connects people throughout Pennsylvania’s Capital Region with the natural world through environmental education, community programs, and opportunities to explore and appreciate the region’s natural resources.
