The PA Land Trust Association Wednesday reported land trusts across the Commonwealth have increased the amount of land conserved by 36 percent between 2008 and December 2017.

The 2017 Pennsylvania Land Trust Census Report found trusts have conserved 189,000 acres, an area roughly the size of Union County.

Among other findings--

--Increased the acreage protected by perpetual conservation easements by 46 percent;

-- Increased the acreage owned by land trusts by 66 percent; and

-- Increased by 23 percent the land transferred to governments for parks, game lands, and other public conservation and recreational purposes.

In 2016 and 2017 alone, land trusts protected 22,000 acres, which is more than 34 square miles.

The report also found that more than 123,000 Pennsylvanians contribute financially to land trusts, and that land trusts directly employ 598 people in full-time jobs.

“Day in and day out, land trusts provide a tremendous public service,” said PALTA Executive Director Andrew Loza. “Working quietly and consistently at the local level, they have created an impressive network of preserved land for the benefit of current and future generations.”

Click Here for a copy of the report.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the PA Land Trust Association website, Click Here to sign up for regular updates from PLTA, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on Twitter, and Join them on Google+.  Click Here to support their work.

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[Posted: June 6, 2018]

6/11/2018