Natural Lands Trust

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Natural Lands Trust

The Natural Lands Trust, headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania, is one of the oldest regional land conservation groups in the United States. Founded by a group of avid bird-watchers in 1953, as the Philadelphia Conservationists, the Trust works in the suburban counties near Philadelphia to the Delaware Bay of the Jersey Shore to the Poconos.

The organization is a conservation group with expertise in land protection, conservation planning and land management. Its stated goal is to preserve natural assets from development in the Delaware Valley.

[edit] Philosophy

Image:Pennypack Creek.JPG

Pennypack Creek near Pine Road

The organization believes that conservation and growth are both vital to healthy communities and that there should be an appropriate balance between the two. It works with local municipalities, developers and conservationists in five key areas.

Land Protection - Protecting land through direct acquisition (by donation or purchase) and with conservation easements.
Conservation Planning - Guiding land use and preservation.
Green Growth - Helping municipalities protect natural resources as they grow.
Land Management - Managing and restoring land to ensure long-term ecological health.
Nature Preserves – Promoting the natural preserves in the region

The trust purchases most of the land it seeks to preserve. It also purchases easements of privately held lands to prevent future development. It is not an advocacy group and does not get involved in specific issues with land developers.