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This map displays conserved land in Pennsylvania. It includes public land owned by the federal government, Pennsylvania state government, and local county and municipal governments. It also includes privately conserved land owned by land trusts. Finally, it includes conservation easements, which are held by both governments and land trusts. Data are updated quarterly via the Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA).This map contains 99% of government protected land and 95% of land trust protected land in Pennsylvania. Attribute fields include site name, brief categorical description, owner or easement holder name, acres, and a link to the site's or owner's website, if available.This map was assembled and is maintained by WeConservePA under contract for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. For more information, visit our home page and ConservationTools.
Acquisition of Land & Easements
Stewardship of Fee-Owned LandsStewardship of Eased Lands
Recreation, Park and Open Space Plans
What Is a Land Trust?
Land trusts seek to bring lasting conservation benefits to people. Working cooperatively with landowners, these charitable organizations acquire land or conservation easements, or manage land or easements, for conservation purposes.
The purposes may include:
protecting water quality
conserving wildlife
providing fishing, hunting, birdwatching, or other recreation
creating new parks, trails, game lands, or other public spaces
assuring the availability of forestland for timber production
preserving productive farmland in support of farm economies
treating abandoned mine drainage or restoring damaged lands
reducing flooding or sequestering carbon
preserving scenic views
establishing neighborhood gardens
meeting any number of other community needs
Many land trusts also maintain trails and other outdoor recreational facilities, run education programs, restore streams and riparian forest buffers, help municipalities with land-use planning, or engage in any number of other activities.
Search “what is a land trust” at WeConservePA.org/tools for more information.
What Is a Conservation Easement?
A conservation easement conserves land in the public interest, but the land stays in the possession and control of private landowners. Conservation is achieved without government ownership.
A conservation easement is established by mutual agreement between a landowner and a private land trust or government. The easement limits certain uses of the land (for example, subdivision and development) in order to achieve particular conservation objectives. The owner may continue to use the land as the owner wishes—within the constraints agreed to when establishing the easement.
A conservation easement does not create a right for the public to access a property unless the owner explicitly establishes that right; conversely, public access is sometimes a crucial part of a conservation project.
Search “conservation easements introduction” at WeConservePA.org/tools for more information.