Growing Greener II

Intact working and natural landscapes are an essential part of Pennsylvania - of our economic vitality, our quality of life and our unique culture and heritage. The natural abundance of the world's finest hardwood forests and some of the world's finest farmland has combined with a strong work ethic to produce much of our prosperity. While many of us may no longer live in rural settings, we relate to and recreate in nearby fields and forests, and they are important to our sense of place.

Sprawl and parcelization of land has fragmented far too many of our remaining forest and agricultural lands, creating land-use conflicts, preventing sound forestry and diminishing the ecological and timber values of isolated woodlot remnants and, at the same time, decreasing the health of watersheds through increased non-point runoff.

Growing Greener programs have protected and restored our natural resources while generating millions to match funding given by the state. It has successfully funded stream cleanup, farmland protection, park improvements, restoration of mine lands and brownfields cleanup. Although the first five years of the Growing Greener program have led to the accomplishment of remarkable things, the surface of the monumental list of problems has only been scratched.

We are confronted at this moment with important choices. We need to find ways to put wings to our words to make a difference in our towns and cities, while we protect forestlands and farmlands in the future. By focusing on people, we can help forests and wildlife too. We can make a better future for our children's children.

Governor Rendell and the Pennsylvania General Assembly have the opportunity to buttress the existing Growing Greener program. Contact your legislator today in support of additional funding for Growing Greener II .

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