Southern Alleghenies Conservancy Inc

THE SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES REGION IS RICH IN NATURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES. THE WATER AND LAND OF THE REGION PROVIDE THE SOURCES FROM WHICH ALL ACTIVITY IN THE REGION EMANATES. CONSERVATION OF THESE RESOURCES IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE ECONOMIC AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL INITIATIVES OCCURRING WITHIN THE REGION AND THE HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS DERIVED FROM IT. THE RICH HISTORY AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF THE REGION IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT THAT RESIDENTS TAKE PRIDE IN AND VISITORS FIND FASCINATING AND WORTH INTERPRETING. HOWEVER, THE RESOURCES OF THE REGION ARE UNDER EVER INCREASING STRAIN. ADDITIONAL PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING THE ATTRIBUTES THE REGION HAS TO OFFER. EXPANDED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ACCESS TO THE REGION IS NOW EASIER AND FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE. IN ADDITION, HISTORIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS ABANDONED MINE DRAINAGE, SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT RUNOFF, SEWAGE DISPOSAL PROBLEMS, LOSS OF FORESTED AND WETLAND AREAS, DESTRUCTION OF HISTORIC LOCATIONS AND OTHER ENCROACHMENTS HAVE AND CONTINUE TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ABILITY OF THE REGION TO SUSTAIN AND SUPPORT THE CURRENT AND FUTURE DEMANDS ON ITS RESOURCES. SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY'S INITIATIVES ARE NOT DESIGNED TO COMPETE OR HINDER ECONOMIC GROWTH. INSTEAD THE GOALS AND PROJECTS AS PURSUED BY SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY AND ITS PARTNERS WORK TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE RESOURCES THAT MAKE ALL TYPES OF VENTURES MORE FEASIBLE AND VIABLE BY PROMOTING THE PROPER USE RATHER THAN ABUSE OF LOCAL RESOURCES. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE REGION MAINTAINS THE CAPABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR NOT ONLY CURRENT BUT FUTURE DEMANDS AS WELL. CONSERVATION ITSELF IS PROGRESS AND PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON WHICH ALL OTHER VENTURES ARE BUILT. SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY PROVIDES UNIQUE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE REGION'S NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION PROBLEMS AND NEEDS. BEING A REGIONAL ENTITY, SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY CAN DRAW FROM THE EXPERTISE AND STRENGTH FOUND THROUGHOUT THE AREA IN ORDER TO FOCUS IT ON A PARTICULAR NEED IN A SPECIFIC LOCATION. THROUGH DIRECT CONNECTIONS AND PARTICIPATION WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY EMPOWERS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS. SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY WORKS FROM THE BOTTOM UP BY ALLOWING GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIZENS TO SELF-DETERMINE THEIR GOALS. SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY'S LAND TRUST CAPABILITY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT TRACTS OF LAND THROUGH OUTRIGHT OWNERSHIP OR EASEMENTS. SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY THEN PROVIDES THE STEWARDSHIP THAT PROMOTES THE BEST CONSERVATION MEASURES SO THAT THESE RESOURCES WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES CONSERVANCY'S LAND TRUST CAPABILITY HAS ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE FACILITATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE CLEAN-UP SITES AND HAS PROTECTED FORESTED RIVER CORRIDORS THAT BESTOW BENEFITS TO MANY MILES OF WATER AND ACRES OF LAND FAR BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES REGION.