About WeConservePA

Ongoing for more than two decades

Advocacy for Conservation Investments. For more than two decades, WeConservePA has led campaigns to boost state investments in land conservation, environmental restoration, and outdoor recreation and turned back numerous legislative efforts to eliminate or slash the investments made by the state’s Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Fund. WeConservePA’s continuing efforts have ensured $3 billion in state conservation investments.

2022

The WeConservePA-led Growing Greener Coalition campaign results in a $100 million boost in state investments for conservation, State Parks and Forests infrastructure, and recreation projects and a $220 million investment in a newly created Clean Streams Fund.

2020

Congress fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the culmination of years of advocacy by WeConservePA and other organizations. Going forward, several million more federal dollars will be invested each year in Pennsylvania’s public lands.

2018

Governor Wolf signs Act 98 of 2018, which better protects from liability those who open their land to public recreation, a culmination of WeConservePA efforts begun in 2006.

2018

After a whirlwind campaign by WeConservePA and allies, Governor Wolf signs Act 45 of 2018, which requires school districts, local governments, and others to prove to court that there is no reasonable and prudent alternative before taking a conservation easement by eminent domain.

2018

WeConservePA agrees to lead a reboot of the Growing Greener Coalition and serve as its managing partner.

2017

The PA Supreme Court adopts the arguments made by WeConservePA in its amicus curiae briefs (2014 and 2016) in defense of parks and other open space lands held by government. The court rejects the arguments of the developer and municipality who sought to liquidate a portion of a park for a housing development.

2016

WeConservePA advocates for and achieves changes in state tax law to broaden realty transfer tax exclusions to include more types of conservation projects.

2016

WeConservePA leads a successful charge to prevent large-scale commercial development in state parks, stopping a fast-tracked bill that would have facilitated the development.

2015

Congress makes the conservation easement tax incentive permanent, the fruit of years of advocacy by LTA, WeConservePA, and land trust partners.

2013

Governor Corbett signs Act 115 of 2013, an amendment to the open space law. WeConservePA achieves its goals of ensuring that voter-approved open space taxes may be repealed only through referenda and accommodating municipal needs for spending flexibility while keeping dedicated open space money focused on open space.

2012

WeConservePA leads the campaign that derails the fast-tracked “sell-parks-for-cash” bill that threatened the permanence of parks.

2011

Governor Corbett signs Act 44 into law. The product of a multi-year campaign by WeConservePA, the Act amends the Agricultural Area Security Law to ensure that state-funded agricultural easements can’t be extinguished after 25 years.

2011

Governor Corbett signs Act 8 of 2011 to prohibit private transfer fees in real estate transactions. WeConservePA succeeds in carving out an exception for conservation easements, strengthening the ability of land trusts to raise funds for stewardship.

2011

The 9th Circuit Court rules for WeConservePA and its six partners, who challenged the Department of Energy’s designation of the Mid-Atlantic National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor (a designation that ignored good energy planning and conservation, giving federal preference for eminent domain and coal-fired power).

2010

The PA Supreme Court rules for conservation in the Erie Golf Course case, preventing municipalities from liquidating their protected open spaces for easy revenue. In its ruling, the court quotes WeConservePA’s amicus curiae brief and other briefs inspired and supported by WeConservePA.

2009-2010

WeConservePA co-leads the coalition that successfully protects PA State Forests from a drilling free-for-all.

2006

Governor Rendell signs Act 154 into law. The Act, a WeConservePA legislative priority, empowers local governments to give land, easements and cash to land trusts in support of conservation.

2006

WeConservePA’s initiative snowballs into a nationwide push, leading to President Bush signing expanded conservation easement tax incentives into law.

2005

Responding to WeConservePA and partners’ outreach, Pennsylvanians vote 60.5% to 39.5% to authorize a $625M Growing Greener bond. WeConservePA’s advocacy results in $80 million dedicated to farmland preservation and $90 million to open space protection – dwarfing the open space monies previously available under Growing Greener.

2005

WeConservePA initiates an ambitious push to expand federal conservation easement tax incentives as most conservation organizations are hunkered in defensive positions as a result of Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation proposals to gut the existing tax deduction.

2002

WeConservePA plays a lead role in the establishment of a dedicated funding source – a landfill tipping fee – to support the extension of Growing Greener.

2001

Governor Ridge signs Act 29, the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act. WeConservePA was the principal advocate for the law, which greatly strengthens the effectiveness of conservation easements.

2001

• Held six regional land trust gatherings.
• Began building relationships outside the land trust community.
• Held half-day PA Land Trust Meeting with 65 attendees during the Mid-Atlantic Land Trust Conference co-organized by WeConservePA.
• Published 1st guidance: the Guide to the Conservation and Preservation Easements Act.

2002

• Launched the Technical Assistance Program: supported six guided organizational assessments and provided direct staff assistance by phone, email and in-person.
• Published the first installments of the 18-part Stories of Land and People series.

2003

• Held the 1^st Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference with 130 attendees and two days of programming.
• Launched ConserveLand.org.

2004

• Made 1^st Conservation Easement Assistance Program grants.
• Critiqued proposed changes to and advocated for strengthening of Land Trust Standards & Practices.
• Established the Lifetime Leadership Award.

2005

• Published 1^st edition of the Model Grant of Conservation Easement and Declaration of Covenants.

2006

• Expanded Conservation Easement Assistance Program to cover amendments, baseline documentation and signage.
• Introduced the ConserveLand print newsletter.

2007

• Published In Their Own Words and distributed 16,000 copies.
• Expanded the Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference to three days with 315 attending. (Attendance going forward always exceeds 300 until the Covid-19 cancellation of 2020.)
• Established the local government Conservation Leadership Award.
• Published the 1st edition of the Model Trail Easement Agreement.

2008

• Held two-day Natural Gas & Land Conservation Conference in response to the Marcellus boom.
• Published Public Dedication of Land and Fees-in-Lieu for Parks and Recreation, WeConservePA’s first guidance regarding the Municipalities Planning Code.

2009

• Published guides on stewardship fees, pledges and donation agreements, and more as WeConservePA moved to fill the many gaps in technical guidance available to land trusts.
• Published the PA Land Choices land use curriculum for schools.

2010

• Debuted ConservationTools.org with guidance on dozens of conservation and planning tools and topics, expert listings, and more.

2011

• WeConservePA’s greatly expanded its guidance, publishing four new model documents associated with easement transactions and twenty guides featuring original content.
• Published the 1^st natural gas drilling violations report, which drew attention across the continent.

2012

• Teamed up with DCNR, et al. to promote outdoor recreation, expanding Get Outdoors PA to involve local government and land trusts.

2013

• Published WeConservePA’s first model documents to go beyond easement transactions: a release of liability agreement and grant of purchase option.
• Initiated effort to improve the Land Trust Accreditation system.
• Took responsibility for facilitating the previously quiescent EAC Network for environmental advisory councils.

2014

• Published WeConservePA’s 1^st model ordinance (riparian buffer protection) and 1^st model organizational policy (easement amendment).
• Published groundbreaking manual on Universal Access Trails.

2015

• Facilitated the development of the Land Stewardship Network peer group.
• Published Nature Play to promote nature play by children and highlight its criticality to conservation.

2016

• Created an on-line gallery of sign images to inspire and assist organizations in sign design.
• Published model documents for obtaining rights of first refusal and offer.
• Participated substantially in developing the new edition of Land Trust Standards and Practices.

2017

• Launched the mentorship program.
• Published WeConservePA’s 100^th original guide (and several more).
• Held 1^st Western PA Land Conservation Summit, attracting 87 individuals, the majority being land trust board members, over the two days.

2018

• Launched comprehensive, interactive online maps of privately and publicly conserved PA lands and of the service areas of conservation organizations.
• Created the groundbreaking Model Declaration of Public Trust to help permanently protect publicly-held parks and open spaces.

2019

• Produced 17 new guides and rebuilt and updated 17 more, ensuring the continuing utility of WeConservePA guidance.
• Published the Model Permission for Encroachment and updated three more models.
• Organized the PA Greenways & Trails Summit.

2020

• Initiated and facilitated the coming together of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Community for people working in conservation and expanded DEI programming.
• Adapted swiftly to the Covid-19 crisis, using emerging digital platforms to gather together and connect PA conservation staff and volunteers as well as national leaders, provide guidance and training, and disseminate guidance.

2022

• Organized a record number 26 conferences, workshops, seminars, and lectures as well as a half dozen roundtables—both in-person and virtual events.

2024 Report (16 pages)  2024 Report (expanded edition)

2023 Report

2022 Report

2021 Report

2020 Report

2019 Report

2018 Report

2017 Report

2016 Report

2015 Report

1995

WeConservePA incorporated.

1996

WeConservePA obtained 501(c)(3) tax status.

2000

1^st executive director hired.

Board of Directors adopts 1^st strategic plan.

2002

2^nd staff position established.

2004

1^st edition of WeConservePA’s public policy agenda adopted.

2005

Policy Advisory Council established.

2005

2^nd strategic plan adopted.

2005

3^rd staff position established.

2006

At board’s recommendation, membership amends bylaws to provide automatic removal of directors for poor attendance.

2007

First broad solicitation of individuals for contributions.

2010

3^rd strategic plan adopted.

2016

4^th strategic plan adopted.

2016

4^th staff position established to beef up WeConservePA’s communications and outreach.

2020

The voting member organizations vote to change the organization’s name from the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association to WeConservePA. The articles of incorporation are amended accordingly.

2021

5^th strategic plan adopted.

WeConservePA helps people care for, wisely use, and enjoy what nature offers. We help organizations and individuals to effectively and efficiently conserve land, protect and restore waterways, implement sustainable practices, and connect people to the outdoors. We foster understanding of conservation and advocate for pro-conservation governmental policy to promote a high quality of life for all.

Who WeConservePA Is

Seventy dues-paying, voting conservation organizations elect the WeConservePA board of directors and set WeConservePA’s purposes. Hundreds of individuals associated with these organizations and other supporters contribute their time, energy, and money to WeConservePA. Coming together around common interests and joined by WeConservePA staff, these professionals, volunteers, and supporters constitute the WeConservePA community.

WeConservePA is a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations and holding 501(c)3 tax status with the IRS.

What WeConservePA Does

WeConservePA brings leadership to a diverse array of organizations and individuals at work in communities across Pennsylvania. It builds communities of shared interests for land trusts, environmental advisory councils, trail groups, municipal open space programs, and others with conservation goals. It helps volunteers and professionals connect with and learn from one another, and provides them with resources, equipping them to make Pennsylvania a better place. And by uniting people who conserve land, protect and restore waterways, and foster healthy communities, WeConservePA creates a powerful advocacy voice for conservation.

Background

WeConservePA started in 1991 as an informal gathering of land trust leaders seeking to advance common interests. These leaders incorporated the “Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (PALTA)” in 1995 to address and focus on the broad needs of land trusts—to take on initiatives and activities that no single organization could effectively handle or wish to handle on its own.

Over time, the organization expanded its scope of activities to serve local governments, including their open space programs and environmental advisory councils; trail groups; and other organizations. In recognition of this evolution, its member organizations voted to adopt the organization’s present name in 2020.

WeConservePA’s member organizations count more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians as members and contributors.

All Pennsylvanians will benefit from well-stewarded, thriving open spaces: the forests, farms, parks, urban gardens, greenways, and other open lands that safeguard our drinking water and reduce flooding; provide food and timber; offer hunting, fishing, nature watching, and other recreational opportunities; preserve scenic beauty; and deliver myriad other benefits. All will have the opportunity to be a part of prosperous communities that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

Our lands are our lifeline. They clean the water we drink and the air that we breathe; they are the fields that grow our food and the forests that provide our wood; they are the homes of wildlife and places of beauty; they are the heart of our hunting, fishing, and nature-watching traditions.

The aims of conservation are as diverse as the lands being conserved, the communities in which the lands are located, and the people leading the efforts. Different circumstances lead to different concerns, priorities, and strategies.

Whether one feels that we should conserve nature for its own sake or for its utility to people, conservation is essential for human prosperity and healthy ecosystems for all life.

Redeveloping land, reinvesting in urbanized areas, using smart growth principles to guide development, and using natural infrastructure to manage water all contribute to creating prosperous communities that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

An effective conservation movement needs conservation organizations and the individuals comprising them to act ethically and strive for excellence; it prioritizes collaboration over conflict; it focuses on shared interests and respects the rights of all.

Organizations have a responsibility to be equitable and inclusionary in their operations and in their service to the public. This necessitates organization leaders, staff, and volunteers investing time in understanding what is involved in being equitable and inclusionary; it requires revisiting assumptions, long-held beliefs, and practices.

Whether living in urban, suburban, or rural environments, people benefit from getting outdoors and connecting with the land, feeling the sun, seeing the veins of a leaf, listening to the burble of a stream.

The word conservation appears frequently in this plan (and, of course, conserve is fundamental to WeConservePA’s name). So, what does conservation mean?

Merriam Webster defines it as “a careful preservation and protection of something, especially planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.”

Wikipedia defines it as “the preservation or efficient use of resources…”

Wiktionary’s first definition is: “The act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; the keeping (of a thing) in a safe or entire state; preservation.” Its second definition is: “Wise use of natural resources.”

National Geographic’s encyclopedic entry defines it as “the act of protecting Earth’s natural resources for current and future generations.” The entry continues:

Earth’s natural resources include air, minerals, plants, soil, water, and wildlife. Conservation is the care and protection of these resources so that they can persist for future generations. It includes maintaining diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems, as well as functions of the environment, such as nutrient cycling…

WeConservePA uses conservation to mean taking action to ensure for present and future generations some or all of the following outcomes:

• The land will serve as natural infrastructure: absorbing rainwater to prevent erosion and flooding and recharge groundwater; filtering stormwater runoff of pollutants before they can enter waterways; and sequestering carbon in plants and soil.
• The land will be available and productive for logging, farming, hunting, and other activities that sustainably draw from nature.
• The land will provide habitat and support for the diverse species with which we share the planet.
• The land will provide other open space benefits such as scenic views and opportunities for outdoor recreation, reflection, and inspiration.

WeConservePA also looks at conservation as encompassing the active stewardship of land (for example, fencing forest to prevent deer overbrowse or redesigning trails to prevent stormwater runoff) and the active restoration of natural functions to degraded lands and waters (for example, reforesting riparian areas or establishing meadow on strip mined land). Even more broadly, conservation describes actions to live sustainably to ensure that future generations may enjoy nature, undiminished.

WeConservePA seeks to:

• Increase the pace and improve the quality and efficiency of land conservation work.
• Ensure that land conservation is lasting (including parks and other public lands).
• Boost the knowledge and skill sets of conservation professionals and volunteers, and foster stronger, more equitable and inclusive organizations.
• Improve land use planning and advance sustainable practices at the local level.
• Raise understanding and support for conservation.
• Achieve conservation-friendly public policy.

WeConservePA pursues four strategies—described below—in support of these goals. (Note that each strategy supports multiple goals.)

Create resources

Create resources that facilitate excellence, effectiveness, and efficiency in conservation acquisitions, stewardship, land use planning, and other activities.

Train, connect, inspire, and assist

Train, connect, inspire, and assist people to empower them to achieve more in their conservation-related work.

Advocate for conservation

Advocate for pro-conservation governmental policy, foster understanding of conservation, and promote conservation-serving land trust standards.

Build WeConservePA

Build WeConservePA into a more effective organization.

Download WeConservePA’s 2022-2028 strategic plan to view the remaining pages describing WeConservePA’s four strategies in more detail.