A honey bee visits a flower. — Honey Bee A close-up look at a honey bee visiting a flower © miroslavmisiura

Pennsylvania Milestones

We saved a place for you. Dozens, actually.

February 14, 2020

Since 1956, The Nature Conservancy has worked in Pennsylvania to protect nearly 100,000 acres of land. During this time, TNC has also become a conservation leader in restoring Pennsylvania’s streams and rivers, collaborating with farmers on improving soil health and increasing stormwater management in urban areas, all while addressing the impacts of climate change in these places.

Conserving nature in Pennsylvania over more than four decades has provided an opportunity to pursue larger, more complex projects than ever before. Time is of the essence, and we are up for the challenge. However, it is important to recognize the true urgency of our work in a world that is projected to have more than nine billion people by 2050.

Two hands hold dark brown soil. — **Soil Health** A farmer examines soil that is key to the health of local land, water and food. © Mike Wilkinson

Protecting nature—and providing water, food and energy to a growing population—are no longer mutually exclusive goals. Addressing these together are paramount to sustaining life on Earth. Can we design a future that meets people’s basic needs without further degrading the planet? Yes!

This work must occur at an unprecedented scale with little time to waste. It begins organizing our work around four priorities:

Protecting Land and Water
Tackling Climate Change
Providing Food and Water Sustainably
Building Healthy Cities

See how we are doing in our annual Accomplishments Report.

1975-2020

45 Years of Conservation

The Nature Conservancy officially opened its doors in Pennsylvania in 1975.

Minsi Lake is located in Bethel Township.

1956

A group of volunteers protected 500 acres in Susquehanna County to create the Woodbourne Forest & Wildlife Preserve. TNC has continued to work here through the years, growing the preserve to 648 acres and into a focal site for environmental education and efforts to combat the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid.

1975

The Nature Conservancy officially opened its doors in Pennsylvania.

1993

Played a key role in creating the Keystone Fund, a permanent funding source dedicated to investing in recreation, parks, conservation, historic preservation and more in communities across the state.

1998

Initiated the Monroe County Citizens for Open Space, a successful campaign that garnered $25 million for land protection and leveraged an additional $50 million in matching funds to protect more than 12,000 acres. The Conservancy used this experience to help others in Pike, Northampton and Lehigh counties, and in Stroud Township, to leverage more than $100 million in public funding for open space preservation in those areas.

2001

Created the Hauser Nature Center in Long Pond.

2008

Celebrated the establishment of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge, a 24,000-acre refuge in Monroe and Northampton counties. The event marked more than a decade since TNC began protecting land and working with community and business groups to generate demand for the refuge.

2009

Played a major role in writing controlled burn legislation that created state standards for wildlife habitat restoration, scale, training and qualifications for prescribed fire practitioners.

2011

Participated in the largest private conservation deal in Pennsylvania history by helping the Bethlehem Water Authority preserve more than 23,000 acres in Monroe and Carbon counties as part of TNC’s first-ever Working Woodlands project.

2020

Partnering with Army Corps of Engineers and the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program to establish scientific basis for management of water withdrawals and reservoir operations in the Ohio River Basin.

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Pennsylvania Milestones

We saved a place for you. Dozens, actually.