Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Applauds New Farm Bill Coalition

(Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  March 22, 2007)  On March 28 in Washington D.C., member organizations will announce the formation of an unprecedented partnership committed to advancing forest policy. The objective of the Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition is to raise awareness and elevate the importance of programs serving the needs of private forestland owners in the federal farm bill.

The farm bill is a key piece of federal legislation which affects every citizen of Pennsylvania by setting agriculture policy for the next five years. It contains billions of dollars in funding for conservation and forestry programs. The legislation is scheduled for reauthorization in 2007.

“The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is proud to be a part of such a landmark national effort,” says Cynthia Carrow, Vice President of Government and Community Relations. “The Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition is a unified voice speaking an important message at exactly the right time,” Carrow said. “Our nation’s forests are too precious of a resource and too significant economically to not receive the attention they deserve and require.”     

Dedicated to educating Congress and the press on the values of private forests, the needs of forest landowners, and the role that the 2007 Farm Bill can play in addressing those needs, the coalition will work to advance specific policy recommendations benefitting forests and private forest landowners as the bill is shaped and debated over the next several months.                                                                          

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About the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy:
Since its founding in 1932, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has protected more than 212,000 acres of natural lands in Pennsylvania, restored watersheds and saved natural habitats for a diversity of life and uses.  The Conservancy has been responsible for the founding of six state parks, including Ohiopyle, Laurel Ridge, McConnell’s Mill, Moraine, Oil Creek and Erie Bluffs.  In addition, WPC created the 300-acre Wildflower Reserve at Raccoon Creek State Park, and added land to Blue Knob State Park.

The WPC also preserves Fallingwater®, the masterpiece home designed in 1935 by Frank Lloyd Wright for Edgar J. Kaufmann in Mill Run, Pennsylvania.  In 1963, Edgar Kaufmann jr. (sic) entrusted Fallingwater to the Conservancy.  Today, WPC continues its award winning preservation efforts and offers a wide variety of educational programs to more than 135,000 annual visitors.  The preservation of Fallingwater is a symbol of living in harmony with nature. 

Each year, WPC also partners with 5,000 volunteers and dozens of community organizations and businesses to plant and maintain more than 135 gardens and greening projects in 20 western Pennsylvania counties.

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