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The Nature Conservancy-PA Reviews 2019 Accomplishments With Its Many Partners, Volunteers

The PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy recently issued its report on Pennsylvania Accomplishments in 2019 highlighting its work to preserve land, restore the environment, work with landowners and educate the public with the help of its many partners and volunteers.

"The Nature Conservancy’s Pennsylvania staff wakes up every day thinking about protecting nature in the Keystone State. They maintain trails, manage forests, host events at our 13 preserves, work with farmers, and promote nature-friendly policies around the Commonwealth,” said Bill DeWalt, Chair of The Nature Conservancy Board in Pennsylvania.

"Take climate change, which is happening at a more rapid pace than nature can handle. The Conservancy is taking this on front and center with its Working Woodlands program-- created and piloted here in Pennsylvania before TNC rolled it out in four other states.

“We’re engaging private landowners in managing healthy and productive forests capable of reducing carbon in the atmosphere, and supporting local landowners who receive carbon credits for managing their forests.

“This year, TNC also supported Pennsylvania’s inclusion in the bi-partisan U.S. Climate Alliance. As the top natural gas, coal and electricity producer in the Alliance, Pennsylvania’s participation represents a solid first step in keeping our state on track when it comes to reducing emissions and shifting to lower-carbon methods of powering homes, vehicles and businesses.

“It has been a busy year—one filled with challenges and hope for what we aim to accomplish,” said DeWalt.

Among the accomplishments highlighted in the report were--

-- Working Woodlands: 45,000 acres have been enrolled in TNC’s Working Woodlands Program which works with landowners to protect and improve the condition of their forests, while generating revenue for the landowner from the sale of carbon credits and sustainably harvested timber.

-- Volunteers Are Critical: In 2019, 366 volunteers contributed 3,691 hours at nature-themed events and workdays in Pennsylvania. This included building bridges over a stream at the Cove Mountain Preserve, repairing the Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve boardwalk, cleaning up trash at the Bristol Marsh Preserve in honor of Earth Day, and much more. Click Here for more.

-- Philadelphia’s Green Infrastructure: The Nature Conservancy is collaborating with the Philadelphia Water Department on its groundbreaking Green City, Clean Waters initiative to create 10,000 “green” acres that, together, establish a natural infrastructure capable of absorbing, filtering and slowing flood and storm waters inundating urban areas with increasing regularity.

In 2019, TNC began construction on 15 green infrastructure projects, totaling 5 greened acres, clustered in the Belmont and Holmesburg sections of Philadelphia. The projects are expected to treat almost seven million gallons of stormwater runoff each year.

-- Farm Nutrient Reduction: Employing the 4R Nutrient Stewardship framework, farmers in York County learned about matching nutrient applications to crop needs to prevent excess nutrients from leaving fields and reaching surrounding waterways.

-- Habitat Protection: TNC and partners in the Kittatinny Ridge Land Protection Partnership protected over 3,400 acres of critical habitat along the Kittatinny Ridge. With this recent progress we are nearly a quarter of the way towards our ambitious goal to protect 100,000 acres along the ridge by 2050.

-- Allegheny River: TNC worked with the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to define river flows that support fish and mussel habitat downstream.

-- Expanding Climate Conversation: TNC and the Pennsylvania Conservative Energy Forum hosted a telephone town hall event that dialed out to 20,000 Pennsylvanians to expand the conversation about renewable energy’s role in supporting the military and national security. The featured speaker was retired Marine General Richard Zilmer, a Pennsylvania resident and national spokesperson for national security issues.

Increased the audience of Advancing Clean Energy PA, TNC-PA’s clean-energy campaign on Facebook and on Twitter, engaging more than 4,200 Pennsylvanians from all backgrounds and perspectives in a discussion on how Pennsylvania can become a clean energy leader.

Click Here to read the entire 2019 Accomplishments Report.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other special events, visit the PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy website. Click Here to sign up for updates from TNC, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter and Join them on Instagram. Click Here to become a member.

(Photo: Left - TNC worked with Game Commission biologists to identify opportunities to improve access and restore wildlife habitat at 12 TNC nature preserves and on six partner properties. Pictured here are Hauser Nature Center staff and volunteers in Monroe County. Right - TNC’s Working Woodlands Program.)

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