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Pennsylvania
Biodiversity Partnership
2004
Conference: Exhibits |
Economic
Prosperity and Biodiversity Conservation:
Planning for Pennsylvania's Future
Harrisburg,
PA
November 9-10, 2004
Biodiversity Supports Pennsylvania Businesses and Economic
Growth!
Exhibit Synopses
Audubon
Pennsylvania
With nearly 4 million people spending almost $1 billion annually to
participate in wildlife watching in Pennsylvania, birds and wildlife
have become big business for the Commonwealth. Audubon's 81 Important
Bird Areas and the 218 Susquehanna River Birding and Wildlife Trail
sites offer communities throughout Pennsylvania an economic incentive
to help protect the state's biodiversity.
DCNR / Wild
Resource Conservation Program
Pennsylvania Wilds covers 12 counties in northcentral Pennsylvania,
and includes more than two million acres of public lands. The Commonwealth
is developing a strategy to encourage the growth of tourism and related
businesses in this area based on these significant outdoor experiences.
The Wild Resource Conservation Program directs resources toward native
species - both plants and animals - and educates both children and adults
on how to help recognize and preserve some of Pennsylvania’s most
sensitive flora and fauna.
Ernst Conservation
Seeds
Ernst Conservation Seeds commercially grows Pennsylvania native species
for wetland restoration, riparian buffers, and meadows. Our seeds are
mainly used in wetland mitigation, roadside stabilization, and mine
and landfill coverings.
French Creek
Project
Few streams in Pennsylvania are more attractive and more biologically
diverse than French Creek. This nationally renowned waterway begins
in Chautauqua County, western New York, and flows for 117 miles through
northwestern Pennsylvania. Recreation is an important river value of
French Creek. Boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, viewing wildlife, camping,
and relaxing are just a few of the many outdoor activities enjoyed along
the waterway. The value of the river can be seen in the wildlife and
aquatic life, income, recreation, transportation, and aesthetics it
provides to the area through which it flows.
Hardwoods
Development Council and Pennsylvania Forest Products Association
Pennsylvania forests contains more hardwood volume than any state in
the U.S. and the state ranks first in the production of hardwood lumber.
The state’s forest products industry is a $5.5 billion industry.
Over 2,600 companies employ in excess of 90,000 Pennsylvanians, accounting
for more than ten percent of the state’s manufacturing workforce.
Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission "Keep Pennsylvania Fishing & Boating"
The fees paid by anglers and boaters provide the funds that stock fish
in Pennsylvania waters, put waterways conservation officers on patrol,
maintain boat ramps, provide education programs, and much more. Fishing
and boating are keys to the quality of life of Pennsylvanians, and they
have major positive economic impacts of more than $2 billion per year.
More than 40 million days are spent fishing and boating in Pennsylvania
each year. More than $53 million goes into the state's general fund
each year from sales and income taxes from fishing and boating activities.
This funding and more is necessary to "Keep Pennsylvania Fishing
& Boating."
Westsylvania
Heritage Corporation
Westsylvania Heritage Corporation serves as a resource center for heritage
conservation efforts in the central Appalachians. WHC also manages the
Path of Progress National Heritage Tour Route that serves to guide visitors
to stories and sites of Westsylvania, interpreting the cultural and
natural heritage of this region.
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