The Conservation LandscapeInitiative:

A Value & Place Based ApproachHelping to Shape a Sustainable

Pennsylvania

Shaping a Sustainable PA

100 years ofstewardship and landmanagement brought usback from destruction

Our Legacy

• 2.1 million acres ofcertified forests

• One of the largeststate park systems incountry – 117 parks

• One of the largest andbest statewiderecreation andconservation grantprograms in country

Building on the Foundation

We traveled, listened, talked andheard:

• Connect more with peopleand economies

• Work strategically in largerlandscapes

• Protect the public lands• Become the statewide

leader• Work cooperatively inside

organization and withother state agencies

MissionWe conserve and sustain Pennsylvania’s naturalresources for present and future generations’ use andenjoyment.

VisionAs Pennsylvania’s leader and chief advocate forconservation and outdoor recreation, we will inspirecitizens to value their natural resources, engage inconservation practices, and experience the outdoors.

DCNR Action Plan

Conservation Landscapes

Collaboration acrossDCNR bureaus andbetween state and federalagencies, localgovernments, non-profitand business partners on:

• land conservation• locally-driven planning• community economic

revitalization efforts• civic engagement

Conservation Landscapes

PA Wilds Lehigh Valley Greenways Laurel Highlands Pocono Forests & Waters Schuylkill Highlands South Mountain Lower Susquehanna

Value Driven

ConservationSustainabilityCommunity

Revitalization

Critical Ingredients

Sense of Place– Landscape boundary vs.

political boundary– Shared identity and vision– DCNR land holdings

CollaborativeShared decision making

Civic engagementBring people together toidentify/develop shared values andconcerns

Critical Ingredients

•Collaborative

Shared Decision Making

•Civic Engagement

Bring people together toidentify/develop shared values andconcerns

Photo courtesy Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau

Critical Ingredients

Strategic Investments:Financial & Technical

AssistanceState AgenciesRegional Statewide &

National Partners

Critical Ingredients

•ReadinessCommon Vision/Shared ValuesPolitical WillLeadership CapacityOpportunitiesThreats

Critical Ingredients

Improvisational &Entrepreneurial– Early implementation that

exposes power of theinitiative

– Responding to opportunity

Synergy:when the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

Entrepreneurial/Improvisational

StrategicInvestment

SenseOf

PlaceCivic

Engagement

Readiness

Collaborative

CLI

PA Wilds

• Landscape perspective• Citizen engagement• Work collaboratively• Invest strategically• Model recreation• Land protection

PA Wilds

• Clarion River ModelRecreation Assessment

• Pine Creek Trail• Dark Skies at Cherry

Springs State Park• Sinnemahoning Wildlife

Watching Trail• PA Wilds Infrastructure

investments• Design Guidelines• Small Business

Ombudswoman

Lehigh Valley Greenways

By 2015 greenways and trails connect natural andcultural resources across the Lehigh Valley linkingurban areas to outdoor experiences, protectingwatersheds and retaining the character of thelandscape, the region’s heritage and the community

2004-2008 Accomplishments

Protected 650 acres Completed 7 riparian

restoration projects 9 NEW Environmental Advisory

Committees (12-21) 16 miles of new trails Designs completed for

expanded environmenteducation facilities

3 model natural resourcemodel ordinances

Over 1,000 trees planted underLehigh Valley Tree Vitalize

Laurel Highlands

By 2015, the unique character of the Laurel Highlands isprotected and the region and its communities arerecognized as world-class heritage/recreationdestinations as well as wonderful places to work, play,and live

Photo LHVB, Brad Harrison

Laurel Highlands

• Laurel RidgeInterpretive Plan

• Stonycreek RiverWhitewater Park

• Great AlleghenyPassage and TrailTowns

• Laurel / ChestnutRidges LandConservation

Laurel Highlands: Ohiopyle

• Ohiopyle State Park• Model for relationship

between state park andadjoining communities

• New visitor center• Community Design Workshop• Joint master plan &

implementation strategy• $1.9 Million in PA Dot funding

Pocono Forests & Waters

• 30,000 acres conserved• Strong support for land

conservation• Counties have responded• Tourism industry• Partners

• Northeast PennsylvaniaConservation Partners

• PennsylvaniaEnvironmental Council

• Tourist PromotionAgencies

South Mountain

• 400,000 Acres Cumberland,Franklin, Adams Counties

Blue Ridge Section onCentral AppalachianMountain Range

Fertile farmlands, hardwoodforests, vernal pools, springsand ecologically significantwaterways

Michaux State Forest

South Mountain

Unique intersection of Conservation, Agriculture and Tourisminterests

County Commissioners Three Agencies: DCNR, Dept of Ag and Dept of Community &

Economic Development

Lower Susquehanna

To put into public ownershipas much of the Susquehannariver lands in Lancaster andYork counties as possible.The current focus is the fourutility company lands in theLower Susquehanna.

To develop a major DCNRpresence in the form of a statepark or local and statepartnership with these lands.

Lower Susquehanna

3,500 acres of landconserved

Establishment ofendowment formaintenance andrecreationaldevelopment

Schuylkill Highlands:

We are forging a variety of partnerships to preserve, restoreand enhance natural, historic, cultural and recreationalresources while encouraging sustainable practices andcompatible economic development to create healthy andvibrant communities

Schuylkill Highlands

Trail Connections– Schuylkill River Trail– French Creek State Park

Trail Towns– Compatible Economic

Development

Land Conservation