How Do You and Community Leaders Decide the Best Use of Land?

Farmers often say that one of their primary goals for getting into (or staying in) farming is to fulfill their desires for the preservation and enjoyment of open space, natural resources/assets, and the agricultural viewsheds that operating a farm can offer.  If that describes one of your motivations, there is a session in the Penn State Extension Leadership and Community Vitality Land Use Decision-Making Webinar Series that may interest you (also explore previously recorded and other upcoming sessions):

Green Corridors, Blue Corridors: Planning to Protect our Natural Assets

Take a deep dive into regional open space planning approaches. The full range of natural resources that often serve as the building blocks of green (terrestrial) and blue (riparian) corridors will be presented. Additionally, a series of analysis techniques and methodologies will be discussed to illustrate how synergies between existing natural resources can be leveraged for ecological, recreational, cultural/historical, social, and resiliency purposes/benefits.

The webinar will explore emerging trends in open space planning. Issues such as climate change, environmental restoration, and diversity/equity/inclusion are at the forefront of current events. These issues are not only headline news, but they're also greatly influencing the "why, what, how, and where" of how we conserve our natural resources and open space areas.

Finally, over the past 40 years, Pennsylvania has amassed a trove of open space planning experience. The webinar will examine a set of "lessons learned" highlighting successful implementation strategies as well as avoiding pitfalls of over-ambition, lack of partnership, and ultimately inaction.

Learning Objectives

• Become familiar with greenway planning concepts, the difference between green/blue corridors, and general conservation strategies
• Learn how planning approaches are evolving to address the impacts of climate change, shifting migration patterns, and the inequity of open space access
• Develop an understanding of the potential successes and pitfalls to a variety of conservation strategies

Presenters

• Andrew Schwartz, Environmental Planning and Design
• Jeff Wagner, Natural Heritage Program at Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Moderator

• Peter Wulfhorst, Penn State Extension

Learn more and register to attend the Land Use Webinar Once registered, you will also receive recordings for all of the sessions in the series.