On April 19, the Natural Lands announced the addition of 373 acres to its Bear Creek Preserve in Luzerne County bringing the preserve size to 3,938. The land will be available to visitors—free of charge, year-round—and will never be developed.

“The acquisition of this 373-acre parcel closes the last gap in a conservation corridor of protected lands including state parks, forests, and Game Lands that spans more than 150,000 acres,” said Natural Lands President Oliver Bass. “Had the property been sold to a developer, up to 150 houses could have been constructed, fragmenting the dense forest habitat that is so critical for songbirds—like Ruffed Grouse, Golden-winged Warbler, and Wood Thrush—and other wildlife species.”

Natural Lands has been working with partner Mid-Atlantic Audubon, funded by a grant from Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to study and improve the forest at Bear Creek Preserve to provide better foraging, mating, and nesting habitat for birds whose populations are in decline due to habitat loss.

The newly added acreage offers additional forested cover that Natural Lands’ stewardship staffers can work to optimize for these struggling bird species.

The addition contains two tributaries to Bear Creek, which flows into the Lehigh River and on to join the Delaware River. These tributaries are designated as “High Quality-Cold Water Fisheries” by the Department of Environmental Protection.

These cool, clear streams support aquatic life and help contribute to safe drinking water for everyone in the watershed.

The project was underwritten in part by a grant from The Open Space Institute's Appalachian Landscape Protection Fund, which aims to reduce climate risks for communities and emphasizes the lands’ ability to store atmospheric carbon.

Said Natural Lands’ Conservation Project Manager Kate Raman, “The Nature Conservancy's Resilient Land Mapping tool indicates that this new acquisition stores more than 34,000 metric tons of carbon. For perspective, this is the equivalent to CO2 emissions from 60 homes electricity use for one year.”

Grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – Community Conservation Partnership Program, and the Open Space Institute’s (OSI) Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund will support Natural Lands’ purchase of the land. The project marks OSI’s second grant in support of Bear Creek Preserve.

“Through our Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with our major program funders at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, is proud to support the expansion of Bear Creek Preserve,” said Stephanie Heidbreder, NFWF’s Delaware River program director. “The acquisition of these additional acres will contribute to watershed-wide efforts to restore forests, increase public access, connect habitats, and improve water quality in the Delaware region for fish, wildlife, and people.”

OSI’s Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund (ALPF) is capitalized by funders including the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, and numerous family foundations.

The ALPF preserves land along the Appalachian Mountain range, an area that is home to the world’s largest broadleaf forest, stores most of the nation’s forest carbon, and provides essential refuge for plants and animals at risk of habitat loss from climate change.

“The Open Space Institute is proud to support this important project through our Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, as part of our ongoing efforts to protect the fragile forests of Pennsylvania in the face of a changing climate,” said Bill Rawlyk, OSI’s Mid-Atlantic Field Coordinator.”

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Natural Lands website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from Natural Lands and Like them on Facebook.  Click Here to support their activities.

Natural Lands has preserved more than 125,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,000 acres.

NewsClips:

-- Scranton Times: Bear Creek Preserve In Luzerne County Grows By 373 Acres

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Celebrating A Passion For Conservation - North Branch Land Trust

-- Inquirer: A New Disease Is Killing Beech Trees In PA, NJ; Worse Than Spotted Lanternfly?

-- Game Commission Announces Plans For Spraying 110,000 Acres Of State Game Lands For Spongy Moths (formerly Gypsy Moths)

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Annual Spongy [Gypsy] Moth Management Begins

-- Citizens Voice: Mountain Top Wildfire In Luzerne County Winds Down

-- Centre Daily Times: Multiple Fire Companies Called To Battle Wildfire In Philipsburg Area

-- Altoona Mirror: Teen Volunteer Firefighter Accused Of Setting Wildfires

-- Reading Eagle: Massive Willow Tree Estimated To Be 200 Years Old Taken Down At Blue Marsh Lake Basin

-- AP: U.S. Plans New Forest Protections, Issues Old-Growth Inventory

Related Articles:

-- DCNR Receives Two Successful Independent Audits For State Forest Management [PaEN]

-- WeConservePA: Lauren Imgrund Moving From DCNR To National Park Service

-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Education Update - Earth Week Edition  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Blog: Bring Biodiversity Back To Your Lawn - Convert Your Lawn To A Habitat

-- DCNR: Seven Tubs Recreation Area Closed For Critical Infrastructure Improvements In Luzerne County

-- April 21 Take Five Fridays With Pam From PA Parks & Forests Foundation  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal: Shale Gas Drilling, Development Yields Both Fears, Funding For Pennsylvania Public Lands - By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal  [PaEN]

-- Natural Lands Adds 373 Acres To Bear Creek Preserve In Luzerne County  [PaEN]

-- TreeVitalize Conference To Focus On Urban Trees, Community Resilience May 31-June 1 In Philadelphia  [PaEN]

-- Allegheny County Conifer Symposium June 14 To Explore Future Of Conifers In A Changing Climate In Western PA  [PaEN]

-- PA Master Naturalists Now Accepting Applications For Fall Volunteer Training  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 19, 2023]

4/24/2023