Kate Gonick is the Vice President of Land Protection and General Counsel for the Lancaster Conservancy. Her connection to the landscape fuels her passion for conserving natural lands.

After becoming a land use attorney, Kate returned to school part-time to pursue a lifelong interest in archaeology. While advancing to candidacy for her Ph.D., she developed an archaeology program and field school at Cheyney University.

Kate represents the Lancaster Conservancy in all legal matters, and works with her team and partners to find, fund, and complete all necessary transactional work that goes into protecting natural lands.

Kate grew up in the Lancaster area and spent many summers along the Susquehanna River, where she found a deep love of the landscape.

“When I read that the Lancaster Conservancy was undertaking a large land protection project to protect that landscape forever, I had to be a part of it,” Kate says.

The Conservancy works to create habitat corridors that benefit wildlife and humans alike. Water resources are critical in Lancaster County, and the conservancy protects existing riparian buffers.

As Lancaster County has very little forest land, it is critical to air and water quality, as well as quality of life, that the limited forests there are protected.

The conservancy’s work extends throughout the region along creek and river corridors as the external lead for DCNR’s Susquehanna Riverlands Conservation Landscape.

If land and forest protection are something you are interested in, Kate recommends volunteering, and getting involved. “There are so many opportunities with your local land trust, environmental organizations, or other non-profits to get out and experience nature and help build a better tomorrow for us all.”

While coordinating these efforts to preserve natural lands, Kate has really seen the power of people.

“Working collectively, we can accomplish so much,” she says, “Nature is key to our survival and we must engage with each other if we want to survive. No one person can do it alone, and every voice is needed.”

Know of a good natured Pennsylvanian who is passionate about outdoor recreation and/or conservation that we should feature? Contact DCNR at: ra-resource@pa.gov to nominate someone.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

(Reprinted from DCNR’s June 10 Resource newsletter.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

[Posted: June 11, 2020]

6/15/2020