A Value & Place Based Approach Helping to Shape a...
Transcript of A Value & Place Based Approach Helping to Shape a...
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