11/25/24 - 156 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/54ukts8z
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DCNR Secretary DiBerardinis Leaving For Philadelphia Parks Post
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Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Michael DiBerardinis will be leaving his post on April 3 to become the new Philadelphia City Parks Commissioner.
"Michael's tenure as DCNR secretary has been marked by many achievements that will have a lasting benefit for the natural resources and economic vitality of this commonwealth," said Gov. Rendell. "Michael has worked tirelessly to improve the stewardship of our state parks and forests, at the same time expanding the conservation mission to include efforts to build and maintain sustainable communities and create outdoor connections for citizens and visitors. "With Michael's guidance, communities across Pennsylvania are looking to land conservation, open space protection, outdoor recreation, and trails as ever more powerful community revitalization and economic development tools. His vision, leadership and counsel will be missed."
Pennsylvania protected more than 130,000 acres of natural areas during Secretary DiBerardinis' term as DCNR secretary, a greater amount than was conserved over the past 30 years. He also helped establish large, regional landscape efforts such as the Pennsylvania Wilds—an initiative that is regarded as a national model for mobilizing and coordinating an array of conservation, tourism promotion, economic development and community revitalization interests.
Under Secretary DiBerardinis, the Commonwealth invested more than $415 million in rehabilitation and improvements to Pennsylvania's state parks and forests. He instituted measures to connect citizens to recreational and conservation activities at these attractions like the adventure camps for urban youth to explore the outdoors and the construction of a nature inn at Bald Eagle State Park to offer overnight accommodations beyond the traditional camping experience.
He also launched the iConserve Pennsylvania outreach effort to encourage people to practice conservation in their everyday lives and helped expand TreeVitalize, the statewide metropolitan tree planting initiative.
The goal of TreeVitalize is to plant one million trees across the commonwealth to restore cover, educate citizens about caring for our environment, and build capacity among local governments to understand, protect and restore urban trees.
In an email to DCNR employes, Secretary DiBerardinis said--
"These past six years have been the most rewarding and fulfilling of my entire career. My time as secretary has been one of the best things to ever happen to me.
"Although the work has been fabulous, it has been the people of this fine organization that have made this journey so special. From my first day in office, I realized I was inheriting an organization filled with dedicated stewards and rich traditions. I was humbled by your knowledge and work and the legacy that you have carried from past conservation leaders. I am no less humbled six years later.
"As Secretary, I challenged us to do more, and you have more than lived up to that challenge. We have accomplished a great deal over these past six years, more than I think we imagined we could. We stretched ourselves to achieve more, and we have.
"I regret not being able to see this work reach its full potential, but I know I leave the department in very capable hands with the leaders we have built throughout the agency. I have complete confidence that this important work will progress and mature and that DCNR will continue to grow and adapt in its leadership role.
"I thank you for all of your hard work and commitment over the years. But most of all, I thank you for your friendship and generosity. I will greatly miss all of you and this fine agency." |
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3/6/2009 |
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