The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy is fortunate to have a broad network of like-minded partners who help make our work to protect, restore and beautify the region possible.
Restoring watersheds, conserving land, greening communities and protecting habitats for threatened wildlife are all massive undertakings. Our work takes varying levels of strategic planning and thinking, consistency of efforts, funding and time – sometimes over years and even over decades – for implementation and long-term successes.
Not one single conservation organization can do this type of work alone. That’s why we rely on the generosity and support from thousands of partners each day. Through strategic partnerships, we can align our efforts with a variety of organizations, state agencies, private foundations and individuals who care deeply about the quality of our region.
Each year, our dedicated partners help us to implement projects, address conservation priorities, maximize funding resources and tap into local expertise. Tangible examples of outcomes made possible through partnerships include planting trees, restoring streambanks, working with farmers, public-policy initiatives, creating canoe access points along rivers and streams, and enhancing our properties, among other important tasks.
Maximizing Our Work Through Partnerships
Much of our conservation work is done in partnership with local land trusts, watershed associations and other conservation groups across the region. For example, the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, which works throughout the state to protect rare and endangered species and their habitats, is a partnership between the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, the PA Game Commission, PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Similarly, our work of planting more than 33,000 new trees in Pittsburgh since 2008 through TreeVitalize Pittsburgh would not be possible without the support of our partners. TreeVitalize Pittsburgh is a joint partnership with Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, Tree Pittsburgh, PA DCNR and the Conservancy. And, we are only able to preserve Fallingwater and share it with the public and schoolchildren across the region because of the countless individuals, families, schools, businesses and foundations that partner with us to support its preservation and educational programs. These are just a few of the many examples of the varied and treasured partnerships occurring across the Conservancy.
Among the types of partners we engage with every day at the Conservancy are:
- Our more than 10,000 Members
- Our nearly 12,000 Volunteers
- Colleges and Universities
- County Conservation Districts
- Elementary, Middle and High Schools
- Grassroots Watershed Associations
- Landowners
- Local Businesses
- Local and County Governments
- Local Land Trusts and Conservation Organizations
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Philanthropic and Community Foundations
- State and Federal Government Agencies
We greatly appreciate the hard work and dedication of our partners as we collaborate together to forge stronger outcomes for conservation and preservation.