Moore Township supervisors preserve almost 100 acres

Exciting news from the Lehigh Valley!  Moore Township Supervisors yesterday voted to buy development rights for two properties totaling almost 100 acres at the base of the Kittatinny Ridge with Wildlands Conservancy holding the conservation easement on the properties.  Congratulations to Moore Township residents and municipal leaders for taking this important step in preserving their community's natural assets and thanks to Wildlands Conservancy for all the work they do in protecting the Kittatinny Ridge, also known as Blue Mountain.  See article at link below from LehighValleyLive.com:

MooreTownship supervisors preserve almost 100 acres

Kittatinny Ridge interpretive panel installed at Scott Farm Trail Center

Click on image for larger view. Designed by Kim Williams.

The first Kittatinny Ridge interpretive panel using the new Kittatinny Coalition logo and tag-line is on display at Scott Farm Trail Center in the Cumberland Valley at the base of the Ridge.  The Ridge’s significance as a globally important migratory fly-way and connections to the Appalachian Trail are key themes.  The panel content also explains the significance of the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor as providing critical high quality interior-forest habitat and protection for important drinking water supplies and stream habitat.

Designed by ATC’s Kim Williams, this panel was developed for a series of interpretive signs along the A.T. throughout South Mountain and the Cumberland Valley by the South Mountain Partnership with assistance from the CumberlandValley Visitors Bureau.

Developing a plan for consistent signage and branding throughout the Kittatinny Ridge and Corridor was a topic of discussion at a recent Kittatinny Central Partners meeting.

Regal Fritillary Grassland Tours coming up at Fort Indiantown Gap

Source: milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/

You have probably heard of Fort Indiantown Gap’s famous “butterfly”…now is your chance to see it up close and personal. The public is invited to tour Regal Fritillary habitat in an area normally closed to the public and learn how the conservation efforts for this species of concern are balanced with military training.  2012 Regal Fritillary Habitat Tours are being held on June 30, July 1, July 6 and July 7.  Tours start at 10am.  For more information, visit Fort Indiantown Gap's Regal Fritillary web site.

“The Regal Fritillary butterfly colony at Fort Indiantown Gap continues to thrive alongside military training equipment thanks to our dedicated wildlife staff,” said Col. Samuel Hayes, commander of the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Site. “These tours are popular for visitors of all ages because participants are able to see and learn about the butterfly in its natural habitat.”  View a Regal Fritillary fact sheet.

Scouting volunteers help create habitat for butterflies at Lehigh Gap

Scouting volunteers from Bangor and Breiningsville recently assisted with a planting event on the Kittatinny Ridge in early May, helping to restore habitat for regal fritillaries at Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Slatington, PA.

Read more in Greater Hazleton's Standard Speaker's coverage of the event: Scouting volunteers attempt to create habitat for rare butterfly 

Lehigh Gap Nature Center staff and Audubon PA reps were on hand to assist and educate the scouts as they planted, seven species of flowers useful to many other species of butterflies and other insects, not just the regal fritillary. Slideshow below!