11/18/24 - 107 New Stories - REAL Environmental & Conservation Leadership In PA: http://tinyurl.com/3zb7jppr
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Pocono Forest And Water Conservation Landscape Scores Some Green
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Nearly $100,000 was awarded to 16 organizations in Northeast Pennsylvania by the Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape Program. Administered by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, the Conservation Assistance Program is a reimbursement program funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The PFW is home to numerous and worthwhile projects, programs, communities and groups with a focus toward conservation, sound land use and nature based recreation.
The purpose of the CAP was to provide funding for smaller projects that support the Overall Goals of the PFW and advance land conservation and conservation and recreation planning within priority areas using a proactive targeted approach.
“Within the Pocono Forest and Waters Conservation Landscape, there are a number of passionate and dedicated groups who share a common conservation vision,” said Ellen Ferretti, Vice President of PEC. “This grant is our first opportunity to take that enthusiasm and infuse it with a funding resource to get some early-action items accomplished and demonstrate the power of working together on a landscape basis.”
According to Brad Elison, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, Assistant State Forester and Conservation Landscape Coordinator, "The primary focus of the PFW Landscape Program is to provide better public awareness of the tremendous ecological and recreational values that are part of the public lands found within this beautiful region.
"Providing coordination between the numerous dedicated conservation and environmental groups and the local community and county governments is integral to this effort. These grants, though relatively small, provide important seed money, both for the projects and for developing the synergy to make the most of the local resources."
Priority areas of the grant program included the region’s most spectacular landscapes such as the Lehigh Gorge/D&L Heritage Corridor, Cherry Valley, Upper Lehigh/Roaring Brook, Middle Delaware River, Promised Land/Delaware State Forest, Lackawanna State Park and Harvey’s Creek/Rickett’s Glen. Nearly thirty organizations applied for program funding.
Ultimately, $98,000 was awarded among the following organizations:
-- Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority - Northeast PA Trails Network Coordination and Workshop Series;
-- Wyoming Valley Wellness Trails Partnership - Pedestrian Bicycle Count;
-- Stround Township Board of Supervisors - Cherry Valley Transfer of Development Rights Ordinance;
-- Paradise Township - Educational Kiosks for Open Space Trail Heads;
-- Lackawanna Valley Conservancy - North Pocono Outreach Initiative;
-- Thornhurst Township, Lackawanna County - Conservation Based Ordinances;
-- Pike County Office of Community Planning - Common Ground: A Sportsman’s Guide to Pike County’s Public Lands;
-- Wilkes-Barre YMCA - Luzerne County Keystone Active Zone Passport 2010;
-- Natural Lands Trust - NE PA Conservation Partner’s Mapping;
-- Countryside Conservancy - Educational Outreach for Open Space and Recreation in Lackawanna County;
-- The Nature Conservancy - Protecting High Priority Natural Heritage Landscapes in NE PA;
-- North Branch Land Trust - Hemingway Land Project;
-- North Branch Land Trust - The Benefits of Conservation Workshop;
-- Bethlehem Water Authority - Forest Management Plan for the Wild Creek/Penn Forest Watershed;
-- Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership - Greater Hazleton Regional Trail Environmental Education Area; and
-- Delaware Highlands Conservancy - Shop Local Save Land WOODNET.
PEC serves as coordinator for the Landscape, which encompasses six counties: Wayne, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Luzerne and Lackawanna. Our participation in this program is funded by DCNR, Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, and The Luzerne Foundation..
For more information, visit the Pocono Landscape Initiative webpage or contact Ellen Ferretti by sending email to: eferretti@pecpa.org.
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3/15/2010 |
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