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The Pennsylvania Senate is poised to vote on a bill that, depending on how the land was acquired, will allow county and local governments to sell local parks for easy cash.

DVRPC Announces New Funding Opportunity for Trail Projects

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is pleased to announce a funding opportunity through the Regional Trails Program. With the generous support of the William Penn Foundation, up to $2 million is available to acquire right-of-way, plan, design, or construct Circuit Trails, trailheads, gateways, and neighborhood connections. Municipalities, counties, state agencies, and non-profits in DVRPC’s nine-county region are invited to apply for awards of up to $200,000 with no match required.

Susquehanna Riverlands Mini-Grants

The Susquehanna Riverlands Mini-Grant Program provides targeted funding opportunities in the form of small competitive grants, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, towards projects that advance the mission of the Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape and focus on the following areas: (1) habitat and trail connectivity, (2) sustainable public access to the Susquehanna River and its surrounding natural lands, (3) community partnership and collaboration, and (4) ecosystem health. Projects that can demonstrate the greatest benefit and overlap between two or more of these areas are more likely to be funded.

Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps Seeks Public Land Partner Projects

The Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps (PAOC) is seeking projects for its 2024 season. Municipalities and non-profits can host PAOC crews on a cost-share basis to complete work on public lands. The PAOC employs youth ages 15 to 24 to complete conservation and outdoor recreation projects in parks and forests across Pennsylvania. The DCNR-led program engages underserved citizens and trains the next generation of conservation leaders.

Fire Towers: Tried and True Technology

This week has been a very active time for wildfires in Pennsylvania, and the Bureau of Forestry would have difficulty fulfilling its legal mandate to suppress wildfires in the Commonwealth without employing many resources, including the use of fire towers.

Nolde Forest, 1925.

Although many forest fire observation stations used by the bureau over time are no longer upright, roughly half of the remaining towers currently standing are still used for wildfire surveillance and detection. Records indicate that private owners were detecting wildfires from an observation station that predates the formation of the PA Department of Forestry in 1901 and the Division of Forestry, (under the PA Department of Agriculture) starting in 1895. Back then, the new agency was led by Joseph T. Rothrock, also known as the “Father of Forestry”, who served as the first Commissioner of Forestry for PA.

2023 EAC Network Conference an Educational Success

Event Summary

The 2023 EAC Network Conference was held virtually on Saturday, February 25 from 9am – 3:30pm.

The event kicked off with a plenary program from 9AM – 10:30AM, the EACs and Environmental Justice Panel. Panelists included:

Justin Dula, Director of PA DEP’s Office of Environmental justice who gave an overview of environmental justice areas (why are they important and what tools are available to municipalities at the state and federal level)
Jeff Smith of Citizens for a Healthy Jessup and Rashida Lovely, landowner and member of DEP’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board, who spoke about some of the gatekeeping practices that prohibit people of color from having access to/enjoying the land
Rafiyqa Muhammad, Harrisburg EAC member and community organizer who shared insights on why can there be community distrust of environmental organizations, and how can you go about overcoming it
Carol Grayshaw, Director of Education and Robert Campbell, Communications Specialist, both with WeConservePA, shared best practices for EAC relationship building (both with municipal officials and community members)

The morning plenary was followed by six additional sessions across three breakouts:

Meadow Management, presented by Gary Gimbert, VP for Stewardship, Natural Lands
Tredyffrin Taskforce on Stormwater, presented by Ray Clarke, Board Vice President, Open Land Conservancy (Chester County), and Anne Murphy, Treddyfrin Citizens Advisory Stormwater Task Force
Redefining Beautiful: Making the Case for Pollinator Friendly Ordinances, presented by Heather Andrews, Garden Thoughtfully
Act 101 and Delco’s 10-Year Plan for Zero Waste, presented by Francine Lock, Chief Sustainability Officer, Delaware County
Basin Naturalization, presented by Jeff Kellar, Habitat by Design
Energy Transition Funding Panel, featuring Britte Earp, Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator, PA DCED, Katherine Stainken (VP Policy) and Nick Miller (Policy Analyst) of the Electrification Coalition, and John Costlow of the Sustainable Energy Fund.

Brandywine Conservancy Launching DCNR-Funded Greenway Mini Grant Program

The Brandywine Conservancy is pleased to announce the launch of the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s (BCG) Mini Grant Program for 2023-2024. This program is funded by a recent grant of $85,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (DCNR) Community Conservation Partnership Program Environmental Stewardship Fund, administered by the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation (BRC). With these funds, the Brandywine Conservancy will be able to grant awards of $2,000 to $25,000 to projects that will support and advance the goals and objectives of the Brandywine Creek Greenway Strategic Action Plan. The grant funding round will open on March 20, with applications due by May 30, 2023.

Delaware Highlands Conservancy Accepting Scholarship Applications

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy is accepting applications from eligible high school seniors for the “Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Yeaman Scholarship.

Bike Safety Decal Receives a New Look

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership announced the release of a new Bike Safety Decal to help promote bicycle safety in our Pennsylvania towns and communities.

Conservancy Announces “Nature Heals: Restore, Renew, Reconnect” Photo Contest Winners and Gallery Exhibition

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy held its third annual juried photo contest, “Nature Heals: Restore, Renew, Reconnect.”

Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan 2020-2024 Educational Webinars

Pennsylvania has a new five-year Outdoor Recreation Plan with five top priorities.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice Resources

Evergreen Conservancy Announces New Story Maps

Evergreen Conservancy’s new Hiking Trails Story Map, which serves as a guide to the abundant trails located throughout Indiana County.

Brandywine Conservancy to Launch New Brandywine Creek Greenway Mini-Grant Program Funded by PA DCNR

The Brandywine Conservancy has announced the launch of the Brandywine Creek Greenway’s (BCG) new Mini Grant Program for 2020-2021.

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.

Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy Furthers Efforts to Surface, Extend Harmony Trail

Work was completed this month on the addition of an 8-foot wide limestone surface to the first 720 feet of the Harmony Trail easement owned by the Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy.

Hawk Mountain Welcomes Visitors as Trails Reopened on June 5

As Berks County moved into the yellow phase of the governor’s Pennsylvania Reopening Plan, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary has reopened trails with new safety protocols in place.

2020 September Trails Celebration Mini Grant Program

The Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are accepting applications for a mini-grant opportunity to help communities or trail group celebrate PA Trails Month.

Common Wasps and Hornets of Pennsylvania

Spring, summer, and fall are some of the busiest times of year for insects and the best times of year for people to come into contact with them.

Photography Contest for the Upper Delaware River Region

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy announced its third annual juried photo contest for the Upper Delaware River region.

You ARE making a difference, thank you!

Message from Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy.

PALTA COVID-19 Resources

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has compiled links to COVID-19 related resources.

Conservation Easement Monitoring in a Pandemic

What are land trusts doing regarding conservation easement monitoring?

PALTA Finalizes Trail Group Finder

Following two months of public review of the beta version, the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association finalized its tool for finding trail groups across Pennsylvania.

Walk on the Wild Side: Engaging Kids and Raising Money for Trails

Take a Walk on the Wild Side was an ingenious part of the answer for Tricounty Rails to Trails, a regional Pennsylvania non-profit that maintains the Clarion-Little Toby Rail Trail in Elk and Jefferson counties.

WPC Protects Farm as Part of Farmland Access Initiative

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) announced the acquisition of farmland in Findley Township, Mercer County.

Delaware Highlands Conservancy Welcomes New Staff Member

PALTA Launches Group Finder for Land Trusts and Other Organizations

Act Now: Stop Irresponsible Eminent Domain

House Bill 2468, which the Pennsylvania House of Representatives may amend today (Monday, 6/18) and vote on tomorrow, requires court approval of conservation easement condemnations.