THE CONSERVANCY’S ROLE IN PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS It’s almost impossible to overestimate the importance of land: it provides habitat, shelter and sustenance for all living things. Land can be defined by geographic features and physical and living elements, but it is ultimately shaped by its ownership and use. Land is a legacy passed through generations, carrying our stories with it. Since the 1940s, protecting and restoring Pennsylvania’s natural landscapes has been a core element of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s mission. As a conservation organization, the Conservancy has a long-term perspective on land. The properties that we protect provide habitat for a diverse collection of plants and wildlife and support clean water and air and help sustain human life. They preserve history, regional character and the wild nature of undeveloped space. These areas are open for all to experience and appreciate nature. Pennsylvania’s public land includes state forest (about 2.2 million acres), game lands (1.5 million acres) and 124 state parks (300,000+ acres). Although most public land across the nation is managed by federal, state or local government or a tribal nation, land trusts and nonprofits like the Conservancy also own properties that are open to Scenic view of Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County all.
Photo by Sam Menchyk
Pennsylvania would look much different without the effort undertaken to preserve these landscapes. And the statewide economic impact of outdoor recreation in Pennsylvania is estimated at nearly $19 billion each year. But the contribution to quality of life and vitality of our region is incalculable. Of the more than 290,000 acres that the Conservancy has protected in our history, more than 200,000 acres have been conveyed as public land to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other agencies. DCNR oversees the Bureau of Forestry and the Bureau of State Parks, while PGC manages game lands. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission protects and manages aquatic resources. All of these groups work together to protect and steward our natural landscapes.