Findings from Statewide Survey shows overwhelming support for Conservation Funding

Source: http://www.plateshack.com/

Attention state legislators!  Results from a recent survey conducted by the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land indicated overwhelming public support throughout the state for both continuing existing dedicated state funding for conservation as well as increasing state funding for land and water conservation, even if that means a small increase in taxes.

Read the full Executive Summary of the Survey Findings here.

Overall, the results of the survey show that Pennsylvania residents clearly value the state’s natural resources.

Upper Mt. Bethel Supervisors support land preservation effort

The Nature Conservancy is looking to preserve another
70 acres of property along the Kittatinny Ridge.
(Source: WFMZ.com)

Upper Mt. Bethel Township Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to formally support The Nature Conservancy's efforts to preserve 70 acres of forested land along the Kittatinny Ridge in Northampton County.  Upper Mt. Bethel sets a great example for municipalities along the Appalachian Trail and Kittatinny Ridge in their resolution.  See the full WFMZ article here.

Municipalities can play an important supporting role in backing funding proposals for land preservation and can even go as far as to hold conservation easements.  In this particular case, The Nature Conservancy is applying to Northampton County's Open Space Program to purchase this easement along Blue Mountain Drive.

WFMZ reports: "Ellen Lott, project manager with The Nature Conservancy, said the additional 80 acres would tie into 229 acres already preserved along the Kittatinny Ridge.  Lott said the ridge has both 'ecological and social importance to the residents of the area' by providing critical habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, while offering breath-taking scenic views.

It's important to keep the ridge forested for the wildlife and the people because it's such a visible landmark,' she said."

Bethlehem Authority's Historic Conservation Deal

In 2011, the Bethlehem Authority, managers of the watershed that provides drinking water to Bethlehem and surrounding areas, completed an agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that protects 22,000 acres of woodlands. Although located outside of the Kittatinny corridor, the City of Bethlehem depends on forests on the Kittatinny to protect its drinking water.  This agreement – by acreage, the largest private conservation deal in Pennsylvania history – protects a significant portion of the headwaters to the City’s water source, preventing the need for costly water treatments. The agreement was the first endeavor of TNC’s Working Woodlands Program, a powerful new tool to advance land protection, especially among large landholders, including water authorities, and hunting or scout camps.  Working Woodlands provides forest landowners with an in-depth property management plan, and access to forest certification and carbon markets.  In exchange, the landowners commit to sustainable forestry practices and grant a 60-year conservation easement.

Managing their forests sustainably will allow the Authority to obtain Forest Stewardship Council forest management certification, and forest carbon payments via Blue Source, LLC. Certification means the timber from the Authority’s lands will meet the increasing market demands for certified sustainably- produced lumber and will allow the Authority to sell carbon credits on the open market. Companies around the world purchase these credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions.

“Working forests are a keystone of The Nature Conservancy's conservation efforts, here in Pennsylvania and around the world,” said Bill Kunze, state director of TNC’s Pennsylvania Chapter. “Harnessing the power of markets in service to the long-term ecological and economic health of our forests can yield great benefit for both people and nature.”

In the end, the deal was a win both for the environment and the Bethlehem Authority. “Our primary mission is to supply the highest quality drinking water to the 115,000 plus customers of the Bethlehem Water System as we possibly can. Preserving the pristine quality of our watershed properties supports that mission. And the Working Woodlands Program enhances our ability to do just that,” said Stephen Repasch, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Authority.

For more information on Working Woodlands, visit TNC online at http://

www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/

pennsylvania/workingwoodlands/index.htm.