December 28, 2007
Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan, The Conservation Fund, 703.908.5809
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvanians received a special gift this holiday season – the gift of land. A broad coalition of private and public partners, including The Conservation Fund, today announced the protection of more than 3,500 acres of forestland across five counties: Bedford, Fulton, Huntingdon, Cumberland and York.
Nestled within Pennsylvania’s ridge-and-valley landscape, the nine protected land parcels extend existing public lands, offering residents and visitors a broader landscape to explore and enjoy. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the counties, and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy identified these parcels as high conservation priorities. The Fund purchased the properties from Glatfelter Pulp Wood Company and will transfer all but one parcel to DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, as additions to existing state forests. York County takes ownership of the remaining parcel, roughly 150 acres along the lower Susquehanna River, to expand Apollo County Park.
“This acquisition will help us enhance what we treasure in Pennsylvania – our beautiful forests, streams and natural areas,” State Forester Dan Devlin said. “Adding this piece of Pennsylvania’s great outdoors to four state forest tracts will mean we are able to protect wildlife habitat and that future generations will be able to enjoy the land for outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing and hiking.”
Todd McNew, Pennsylvania representative for The Conservation Fund, lauded Glatfelter’s commitment to ensuring that its valued former lands will now be open to the public. “This acquisition protects some of the most important, formerly-private conservation lands along the southern tier of Pennsylvania,” noted McNew. Like many divesting timber companies, Gladfelter is currently selling much of its holdings, including more than 20,000 acres of land throughout southern Pennsylvania
Funding for the acquisition was supported by a mix of private and public sources. The Conservation Fund raised more than $3 million in private funds, more than half of which came from the Pittsburgh-based Richard King Mellon Foundation. Pennsylvania DCNR contributed more than $5.5 million. Additional funding came from York County, Cumberland County and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.
Cumberland County Commissioner Gary Eichelberger brought local perspective to the table, remarking: “Cumberland County is pleased to be part of this public-private partnership. Preservation of our forested ridgetops is essential to the quality of life in our region, particularly for clean drinking water for generations to come.” Greg Socha, senior director of forest conservation for Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, added: “The Conservancy is pleased to partner with The Conservation Fund in this great conservation effort. The acquisition of the Glatfelter tracts provides protection of a larger conservation landscape in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We are particularly excited that one of the Glatfelter tracts is adjacent to land previously protected by WPC, which is also planned to become an addition to Buchannan State Forest. We look forward to partnering with TCF and DCNR to continue to protect Pennsylvania's natural heritage.”
Your backyard is bigger than you think. From the park down the street, through distant forests and fields, and all the way past the water’s edge, America’s outdoors is yours.
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1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, Virginia 22209-2156
Phone: 703-525-6300
Fax: 703-525-4610
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