“Every species plays a role in keeping Pennsylvania’s natural world healthy and resilient, and science is our most powerful tool to protect them,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “These investments ensure we can better understand the challenges wildlife and plants face and take action to safeguard them. Protecting biodiversity isn’t just environmental work — it’s our responsibility to future generations.”
The 2025 grant round includes projects focused on surveying and studying rare plants, wildlife, fungi, and invertebrates to fill critical knowledge gaps and guide conservation, including--
-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – $40,525 to accurately map green salamander habitat and assess conservation needs.
-- University of Pennsylvania – $45,737 to study rare mountain mints (Pycnanthemum) and improve risk assessments and conservation planning.
-- Florida A&M University Research Foundation – $46,550 to conduct an extensive survey of Pennsylvania amphipod crustaceans and refine taxonomic understanding and range maps.
-- Carnegie Institute – $30,353 to locate rare plant species across western Pennsylvania using historic records and build new plant collections.
-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – $43,385 to study regionally rare stoneflies and evaluate habitat, distribution, and threats such as pollution.
-- Wilkes University – $27,182 to examine how forest management affects the breeding and migration of prairie warblers and wood thrush in northeastern Pennsylvania.
-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – $29,983 to survey specific rare plant species in eastern Pennsylvania with no reported occurrences in the last 20 years.
-- Pennsylvania State University– $53,924 to assess bee biodiversity using DNA barcoding and the Master Gardeners’ monitoring network, creating a statewide database of bee–host plant relationships.
-- University of Pennsylvania – $50,493 to develop rapid detection protocols for endangered Allegheny woodrat habitat using trained conservation detection dogs.
-- Conemaugh Valley Conservancy – $30,998 to create Pennsylvania’s first firefly inventory in partnership with global experts.
-- Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia – $48,312 to assess opportunities to reintroduce the bridle shiner and ironcolor shiner, two endangered fish species.
-- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary – $42,200 to study habitat and threats affecting Pennsylvania’s nesting and wintering northern harriers.
-- Wildlands Conservancy – $38,400 to survey rare small mammals using camera traps and update conservation priorities.
-- Western Pennsylvania Conservancy – $30,600 to study conservation needs of several Potamogeton species, a group of difficult-to-identify submerged aquatic plants.
-- Philadelphia Mycology Club – $4,258 to document, sequence, and accession 1,600 fungi specimens into the Academy of Natural Sciences herbarium.
“Everyone loves fireflies — but these small insects that fly at night are hard to study, so we only have reliable information about the most common species,” said Dr. John Wentzel, executive director of the Conemaugh Valley Conservancy. “There are likely more than 30 species in Pennsylvania, and we hope to define where you may find them.”
“In Pennsylvania, we have a rich diversity of native bee species that are crucial for our ecosystem’s health,” said Dr. Margarita Lopez-Uribe, Lorenzo Langstroth Early Career Associate Professor of Entomology at Penn State. “We have recorded close to 450 species, many of which are rare and depend on floral resources from native plants. With this project, we hope to collect more data on these vulnerable interactions between rare plants and native bees.”
“Many studies have shown that dogs can significantly boost surveillance capacity, especially for rare and elusive species,” said Lisa Murphy, director of the Wildlife Futures Program at the University of Pennsylvania. “This project will focus on conservation detection dogs navigating the challenging habitat of Allegheny woodrats in search of scat to support Pennsylvania Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources management efforts.”
Administered by DCNR, the Wild Resource Conservation Program supports work to safeguard the Commonwealth’s non-game animals, native plants, and their habitats. Grants are awarded across three categories: species surveys, conservation, and management.
Established in 1982, the Wild Resource Conservation Program advances research and protection efforts for Pennsylvania’s diverse native wildlife — including birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and plants.
Pennsylvanians can support the program by purchasing the Eastern hellbender specialty license plate or contributing through the state income tax check-off.
For more information, visit the Wild Resource Conservation Program webpage
Click Here for the DCNR announcement.
Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.
Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website. Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter.
(Photo: Eastern Hellbender, Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper.)
Related Articles This Week:
-- Vote Now! For Pennsylvania's 2026 River Of The Year [PaEN]
-- DCNR Grants News: Tools For Evaluating Park Equity Webinar; 2 New Columbia Boro Parks; Next Grant Round Opens Jan. 22
-- South Mountain Partnership Holds Winter Partnership Meeting Jan. 30 In Franklin County [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- LancasterOnline: Conestoga River Up For PA River Of The Year, A Win Could Honor Late Journalist Ad Crable; How To Vote [PDF of Article]
-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay News: Wooly Caterpillar Weather Forecasts; Eastern Hemlocks; Phenological Fun!
-- Morning Call: Once A Family Home And Nature Setting, It Will Become Lehigh Valley’s Newest Park
-- Altoona Mirror: Irvona Man Killed In Morning ATV Crash In Clearfield County
[Posted: December 11, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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