The Nature Conservancy-PA Adds 279 Acres To Gallitzin State Forest In Cambria County

On December 11, The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania announced that it has closed on the purchase of 279 acres in Adams Township, Cambria County, and transferred the parcel to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry for addition to Gallitzin State Forest. 

The land will be managed for rare grassland bird habitat and public recreation.

Gallitzin State Forest is a 24,500-acre public recreation area that rests within the Allegheny Front, a landscape running more than 200 miles across the Central Appalachians. 

Stretching from the panhandle of eastern West Virginia, north through western Maryland and into central Pennsylvania, the Allegheny Front serves as a vital migration route for countless species.

"The Allegheny Front is lush with incredible biodiversity. Safeguarding these acres within this vital corridor of the Appalachian Mountains means cleaner air and water, protected biodiversity, and more resilient forest habitats that can continue to thrive and adapt to our changing climate," said Lori Brennan, Executive Director, TNC PA/DE.

“We are grateful to our partners with DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and the Hamer Foundation for their dedication to nature and ensuring this irreplaceable ecosystem remains connected and flourishing.”

This land protection project is TNC Pennsylvania's second acquisition along the Allegheny Front this year.

Known as Paint Creek, this project was named after the cold fish species stream that runs through the property and lies within the Ohio River Watershed in the Allegheny River basin. 

Located in Cambria County just north of the Somerset County border, this property is surrounded on three sides by Gallitzin State Forest—filling a critical hole within the protected forest. 

The land falls within a state-designated Important Bird Area for its grassland habitat that supports a variety of rare bird species, and it also includes part of a Natural Heritage Area for two threatened or endangered bird species that require grassland habitats for hunting and nesting. 

For public recreation, this property already has a network of accessible roads that connect to the surrounding forest, including one that leads to a hilltop with sweeping views.

This project was made possible with support from DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry and the Hamer Foundation, as well as grant funds through DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program.

“This addition to the Gallitzin State Forest is a win for conservation, recreation, and for the protection of critical wildlife habitat and environmental resources,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “These types of conservation initiatives are critical to ensuring present and future generations’ use and enjoyment of our natural resources. Thank you to all of the partners who made the protection of this natural space possible.”

For more than 400 million years, the Appalachians have served as one of Earth’s most diverse and productive ecosystems. 

TNC has prioritized conservation across this ancient chain of forested mountains, valleys, wetlands and rivers as a global imperative due to its variety of species, the carbon stored in its forests, and the rich history and stewardship of the landscape.

TNC’s science has pinpointed the Allegheny Front as a priority landscape to preserve the rich biodiversity of the larger Appalachian range as climate change drives species to move and adapt. 

Serving as a habitat bridge between vast conservation lands in the southern and northern Appalachians, the Allegheny Front plays a critical role in the overall connectivity of this continental ecosystem.

In Pennsylvania and Delaware, TNC is leading large-scale conservation programs that protect the lands and waters that are critical to the health and well-being of both people and nature.

 In Pennsylvania, TNC is also working to reduce stormwater runoff in cities, protect vital migration corridors, and engage farmers and landowners in supporting the adoption of conservation practices.

For more information, visit the The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania webpage

Click Here for the TNC announcement.

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 

-- DCNR Invests Nearly $530,000 To Support 15 Projects To Protect Pennsylvania’s Native Biodiversity Across the Commonwealth  [PaEN] 

-- PA Invests More Than $6.9 Million To Preserve 27 Farms, 2,354 Acres Of Prime Farmland In 13 Counties  [PaEN]

-- The Nature Conservancy-PA Adds 279 Acres To Gallitzin State Forest In Cambria County  [PaEN]

-- South Mountain Partnership Holds Winter Partnership Meeting Jan. 30 In Franklin County  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Jan. 13 Webinar - Spotted Lanternfly Research Updates & Panel Discussion  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Feb. 17 Webinar On The Oystershell Scale Invasive Insect - Frontiers In Forest Health  [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!

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[Posted: December 12, 2025]  PA Environment Digest