Surrounded by a forest full of chestnut oak, sassafras, and mountain laurel, and the fresh mountain air at the Witmer’s property in Jefferson Township, Dauphin County you would never know that the world is enduring a pandemic.

Despite this time of social distancing, the Witmer family, Manada Conservancy, and the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation were able to work cooperatively, with a little help from Zoom, to permanently protect 89 acres of woodland.

Completion of this conservation easement project marks another success for Fort Indiantown Gap’s Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program that seeks to preserve high priority conservation land near military facilities in an effort to avoid nearby uses that would be incompatible with their training.

FIG’s need for dark skies and limited development around the military base mesh with our priority to protect land on the Kittatinny Ridge and surrounding area due to its high conservation value.

In Brenda Witmer’s words, “It’s everything we believe in” –aware that they are both furthering a conservation mission and a military mission.

As development pressure never seems to cease, preserving this land not only helps to protect the water quality of Clarks Creek but also ensures a reprieve for wildlife; the black bear, deer, bobcat, and many others that call this area home.

Contiguous with another Manada Conservancy preserved property, this project helps to fulfill our goal of piecing together a corridor of protected land on the Kittatinny Ridge, recognized around the globe as an important migratory flyway and climate resilient landscape.

Visit the Manada Conservancy website to learn more about their programs, initiatives and upcoming events. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy (mid-page).  Click Here to support their work.

(Reprinted from the WeConservePA Blog. Click Here to sign up for regular updates from WeConservePA, Like them on Facebook, and Follow them on Twitter.  Click Here to support their work.)

Profiles In Leadership This Week:

-- Bart & Vivian Bartolacci Make Woods & Water Conservation Gift To The Future In Monroe County

-- The Miller Family's Farm, Stream Restoration Adventure - 4 Years Later In Berks County

-- The Tenacity Of Tree Planters Like Ann Wain Of Paxton Creek Watershed Assn. And PA Student Leader Lenka Platt Work To Improve Environment

-- Greg Wilson, Donegal Trout Unlimited - Another DCNR Good Natured Pennsylvanian Improving Water Quality, Fish Habitat

-- Farm Families & PA Farmland Preservation Program Permanently Protect 14,727 Acres Of Farmland In 2020

-- Farmers, Scientists In 15 Organizations Partner In New PA Soil Health Coalition To Achieve Water Quality, Farm Production Goals

-- 2 Chester County Townships Join Brandywine-Christina Watershed Pay-For-Success Water Quality Cleanup Initiative By i2 Capital, The Nature Conservancy

-- Volunteers, Landowners & Staff Of Lebanon Valley Conservancy Highlight 2020 Accomplishments & Goals

-- Volunteers In Darby Creek Valley Assn., Partners Cleanup Darby Creek Watershed In 4 Southeast Counties

-- Students, Adults Recognized By PA Resources Council As Winners Of 2020 Gene Capaldi Lens On Litter Photo Contest

-- Grateful For Our Volunteers - The Department Of Conservation & Natural Resources

-- Students Recognized At Westminster College Symposium On The Environment

-- Custodians Of Our Ecosystems - Women, Raptors And Unsettling Words Virtual Program Dec. 17, Lehigh Gap Nature Center

-- PA Architects Recognized In First Awards For Commitment To The Environment, Fighting Climate Change By PA Chapter American Institute Of Architects

[Posted: December 11, 2020]

12/14/2020