Opinion: Help Save South Mountain

By Jane Benning

Chris Kocher, president of Wildlands Conservancy, has made arrangements to purchase several tracts of land on South Mountain in Salisbury Township and Allentown. Folks, this is the most critical time I can remember in my 40 years of environmental involvement if we are going to make a difference. 

Wildlands Conservancy is working to protect a hundred more acres on South Mountain in the next year. The first acquisition is a 5-acre parcel that will connect to our already protected 330-acre South Mountain Preserve. In order to permanently protect this piece of property the organization needs $15,000 in its South Mountain Fund by May 30.

Please consider making a donation to Wildlands Conservancy's South Mountain Fund to help continue our shared mission of protecting this truly special place. Through your financial contribution to our South Mountain Fund, you ensure that Wildlands Conservancy has the ability to act quickly and invest in land protection projects on the Mountain.

As you all are aware, open space is disappearing at an alarming rate and we now have an opportunity to preserve several critically important tracts of land in our watershed.

Forty years ago, four visionary citizens came together to save South Mountain and its natural beauty as the southern backdrop of the Lehigh Valley.  With its l, the Mountain continues to be the number one focus area for Wildlands Conservancy's land protection, land planning and stewardship efforts.

Since 1973, Wildlands Conservancy has protected nearly 48,000 acres of open space with much of it happening in the Pennsylvania Highlands (the federally designated area South Mountain calls home), along the Kittatinny Ridge, and within the Lehigh River watershed. This amazing accomplishment is made possible through the support of the community. As the Lehigh Valley's local land trust and through its long-standing partnership with municipalities and government agencies, Wildlands Conservancy is able to secure funding for local conservation efforts. Although grants have been secured, proposed projects like these also require a local investment.  This is why Wildlands Conservancy needs your support to protect South Mountain!

I appreciate your support and enthusiasm in helping us raise the funds and raise awareness about the importance of protecting South Mountain.

Jane Benning is a Salisbury Township resident who is a member of the Wildlands Conservancy. She is an original member of the South Mountain Preservation Group.