Western Pennsylvania Conservancy conserves land of ecological, scenic, and recreational significance. Since 1932, we have protected 216,000 acres. Most of that land is now publicly owned and makes up some of our state's premier parks, forests, gamelands, and natural areas--enjoyed by millions 
of residents and tourists. WPC's vision of land conservation has had a profound impact on the communities and landscapes of western PA. Our work enables protection of important natural resources and creates economic benefits--from tourism in the Laurel Highlands, recreation in the 
Clarion River and
Loyalhanna Gorge, to forestry in the Allegheny National Forest and Forbes State Forest in Westmoreland County.
WPC acquired land for the creation of these
state parks:
• Ohiopyle State Park including Ferncliff Peninsula
National Natural Landmark
• Laurel Ridge State Park
• Oil Creek State Park
• McConnell's Mill State Park
• Moraine State Park
• Erie Bluffs State Park
We also assisted the state to:
- create the 300-acre Wildflower Reserve at Raccoon Creek State Park
- acquire land to increase the size of parks like Blue Knob State Park
- create a 310-acre natural area with a relict prairie for Jennings Environmental Center
- enhance the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail when WPC conveyed 11,000 acres along the Laurel Ridge
In addition to direct acquisition of land for publicly beneficial projects, WPC is working with private landowners - on a willing and voluntary basis - who choose to protect the conservation values of their land. Using conservation easements, we have protected thousands of acres of scenic land in the historic Ligonier Valley and the Laurel Highlands. Some of the lands under conservation easement - such as the 11,300-acre Crawford Reserve in Venango County - are privately owned but open for public recreation as a condition of the landowner's conservation easement.
WPC also conserves land that is critical to achieving our mission and providing programs. Our 5,000 acre Bear Run Nature Reserve is home to Fallingwater. We are conserving land strategic to our work and activities at our Northwest Field Station at Lake Pleasant in the French Creek watershed and along Lake Erie (2187 acres presently). At WPC's Sideling Hill Creek Center, a part of the Potomac watershed, in Bedford County, we have conserved 430 acres.
Finally, we work to protect land by working with private landowners - especially farmers and timber harvesters - on projects and plans that minimize impacts to the land while at the same time providing viable economic return.