Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Natural heritage and conservation science program: this program furnishes important conservation information and assessments to wpc as well as other partners. The natural heritage program is part of a pennsylvania state partnership program that collects and manages a variety of information concerning the status and locations of rare plants and animals throughout the commonwealth and shares that information to assist with planning, environmental review and land protection.

Watershed conservation program: the western pennsylvania conservancy's watershed conservation program works to improve our region's water quality. Through a number of strategic projects and initiatives - such as streambank restorations, in-stream habitat work, aquatic organism passage improvements and riparian plantings - our watershed conservation program works to protect and restore local rivers and streams. We improve wildlife habitats and increase opportunities for recreation, while working to ensure that our waterways remain healthy and viable for generations to come. Western pennsylvania conservancy has protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Ia/communications: these services consist of the preparation and distribution of educational materials regarding conservation, environmental science, ecological research, architecture, and community greening.

Land conservation program: this program includes land protection and stewardship. These programs focus on the permanent protection and management of the region's natural areas, as well as important farmland, historic properties and outdoor recreational resources. Western pennsylvania conservancy has helped establish eleven state parks and conserved more than 290,000 acres of natural lands.

Community greening: this program implements high impact greening projects to promote attractive and healthy environments and livable places. Supported by strategic partners and over 5,000 volunteers, the program annually facilitates 130 community flower gardens, 30 community vegetable gardens, and 1,400 urban floral baskets and planters along city streets, implements green infrastructure systems to help manage storm water during wet weather conditions, executes greening and outdoor learning approches to school grounds, and since 2008, has planted 40,000 trees in western pennsylvania, including allegheny county, ligonier, erie, johnstown, new kensington, and jeannette.