Snakes and salamanders, wildlife and watersheds, and brownfields with a green future comprise the five area environmental programs that have been named as the winners of the 2009 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards, announced Wednesday by Dominion and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
These five programs address a wide range of local and regional environmental issues, including land and watershed conservation, wildlife protection and brownfield development and were chosen from entries submitted earlier this year. They include a student-run conservation group working to raise awareness of the environmental threat to reptiles; community initiatives to preserve and protect two major watersheds in Cambria and Indiana counties; the redevelopment of downtown Ambridge, which had been in decay after the decline of the steel industry; and a remarkable program that teaches private landowners the importance of creating wildlife sanctuaries.
With these awards, each winner will designate a $5000 cash prize to be used in support of a nonprofit environmental program of their choice. The winners are:
-- Bartramian Audubon Society Sanctuaries Program- Slippery Rock
-- Northern Ambridge Redevelopment Project - New Brighton
-- Stonycreek Conemaugh River Improvement Project - Johnstown
-- TASOW, Inc. (The Awesome Spirit of Wildlife) - Slippery Rock
-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Watershed Conservation Program - Blairsville
Additionally, Linda McKenna Boxx, the president of the Allegheny Trail Alliance and the driving force behind the creation of the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile trail connecting Pittsburgh to Cumberland, Maryland., received the lifetime achievement award. (Click here for full announcement)
No comments:
Post a Comment