The DCNR 2026 Annual Report was originally published on Linkedin January 21, 2026 [PDF of Article].
With 2025 in the books, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) draws to a close the celebration of 30 years of being the statewide leader in conservation and outdoor recreation.
During the anniversary year, a major focus of our work has been a renewed dedication to our mission to conserve and sustain Pennsylvania's natural resources for present and future generations' use and enjoyment.
This milestone also served as a reminder to honor and celebrate the amazing accomplishments of the agency and its top-notch staff. You’ll learn more about that work in this letter and a more robust outline of our work in 2025 can be found on DCNR’s website.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, DCNR has been a more prominent resource for Pennsylvanians and more people – ranging from new visitors who experienced public lands for the first time to those who had a moment to slow down and reconnect with nature – understand the added value our agency and its dedicated staff provide.
Pennsylvania’s public lands are second to none and remain free to enter for all visitors every day.
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great nation, we’re dedicating resources and creating programming to help connect the broader public to the amazing opportunities to recreate, relax, and recharge on public lands.
We are continuing to spread the word of our mission and demonstrate just how important the outdoors are for all Pennsylvanians. That has been recognized with backing from Governor Josh Shapiro in each of his budgets.
In 2025, the Governor continued to champion DCNR by supporting the addition of the 125th state park.
Laurel Caverns will officially open as the Commonwealth’s first underground state park in the late spring!
We will be making additional announcements on this new park and the exciting plans in store for its rich geological resources this year, as well as adding trails and the user amenities state park users know and love.
Governor Shapiro provided another boost to DCNR with an investment in the Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania (OBA PA), a move that helps grow Pennsylvania’s $19 billion outdoor recreation industry.
Since the Governor has taken office, he has created the Office of Outdoor Recreation and the alliance to help rally the sector and elevate the value it provides to Pennsylvania’s economy.
That has led to an increase of 4,000 jobs in the sector and we are seeing Pennsylvania take national prominence under the leadership in the Confluence of States Coalition for 2026.
Following a $5 million investment in the 2024-25 budget, we have begun implementation of our plans to improve the mighty Pennsylvania Outdoor Corps (PAOC).
This transformative program, coordinated with the Student Conservation Association, celebrated its 10 year anniversary making an impact on more than 1,600 participants ages 15 to 25 by giving hands-on experience in conservation work.
This year’s program was the largest PAOC cohort, with more than 200 participants!
The crew members have built or maintained 1,277 structures, enhanced or created 1,072 miles of trail, and planted 20,166 native plants and trees over the span of the program’s existence.
We are doing our part to build the next generation of conservation through the PAOC. Its crew members are trained by our skilled workforce and assist in meaningful work to help maintain our public lands to assist in communities across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Alumni of the program have gone on to work with leading conservation organizations, including DCNR, SCA, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service, benefitting from their hands-on experience and specialized training.
I am always proud to highlight the value of the PAOC with my friend, Labor and Industry Secretary Nancy A. Walker and look forward to continuing to boost this wonderful program.
Our year was not without its issues. Pennsylvania wildland firefighters, led by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, battled two simultaneous wildfires in the Michaux State Forest and a difficult wildfire season across the Commonwealth.
We have seen significant increases in wildfires the past few years, as a result of climate change, persistent drought and near drought conditions, and because of negligence, such as unattended fires, burning trash too close to structures, and other inattentive behavior.
Governor Shapiro visited crews as the wildfires were brought under control, touting his $30 million competitive grant program to strengthen fire departments and protect Pennsylvania communities. Initial responses and support from local fire departments is critical to wildfire responses and we are grateful for the efforts of professional and volunteer fire departments alike.
DCNR is the leader in training Pennsylvania wildland firefighters. More than 450 people attended this year’s training sessions at Shippensburg University.
During this training, we experienced the loss of one of our beloved instructors Dave Warfel. Dave was the Forest District Maintenance Supervisor at Weiser State Forest, a respected and invaluable leader within the wildland firefighting community.
He made lasting contributions to DCNR through his expertise, professionalism, and leadership.
DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks experienced a tragic loss with the death of Alec Campbell, a Park Resource Ranger at Tyler State Park.
Alec was a proud state park employee, who played a vital role in welcoming visitors, protecting our natural spaces, and ensuring the safety of all who enjoy Pennsylvania’s beautiful parks.
His commitment and passion touched many lives, and his loss is felt deeply across our entire community.
We miss Dave and Alec and honor their memories through continued dedicated service to the Commonwealth and its people.
Partnering with Let’s Go 1-2-3 and the City of Lancaster, DCNR unveiled the 2025-29 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan at Culliton Park in Lancaster during the 2nd Annual Outdoors for All Day. Guided by a 40-member Technical Advisory Committee, SCORP emphasizes the role of public recreation spaces in building social connection, economic opportunity, and ecological resilience.
This plan and its priorities are critical to our mission and our direction moving forward, connecting all of DCNR’s initiatives, from the work we do on public lands, to broader investments in outdoor recreation at the industry and community level.
Around 400 people joined us for Outdoors for All Day, which highlighted our impact in local communities and to “meet people where they are” to expand outdoor recreation access as our Mosaic initiative – intended to guide DCNR’s efforts to expand recreational opportunities and to become more inclusive as an agency– instills in our work.
It was a tremendous day of connecting people to nature, conservation information, and outright fun.
Culliton Park was the recipient of a Community Conservation Partnerships Program Grant, our signature grant initiative that helps develop park and recreational opportunities across the Commonwealth.
It is DCNR’s goal to have a trail or high-quality recreational opportunity within near every Pennsylvanian.
To that end, we recently announced an $82 million investment in 58 counties of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. These investments open the door for more people to enjoy the parks, rivers, and trails that make Pennsylvania special – no matter where they live.
Our ongoing work on climate and sustainability was bolstered by many strong, focused actions in 2026.
We unveiled a new strategic plan from the Bureau of Forestry, Forests for All, emphasizing strengthening forest management foundations, connecting with people and communities, and investing in its staff and teams.
We marked a major sustainability milestone with our celebration of 30 years of conservation leadership by unveiling our 30th solar array on public lands, and we continue to find new opportunities to display our commitment sustainability.
We celebrated a new nature-like fish passage at Shikellamy State Park. This structure allows aquatic life to swim around the dams, provides benefits to native species such as American shad and eels, and downstream benefits to the Chesapeake Bay. Our Bureau of Facility Design and Construction is hard at work supporting sustainable projects like the Shikellamy fish passage, as well as critical infrastructure upgrades to Point State Park ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, a new Resource Management Center for Delaware State Forest, and various inspections, designs, and construction contracts they complete to sustain our park and forest infrastructure.
DCNR supported the opening of Mifflin Farm in York County to the public for the first time in 225 years.
This documented Underground Railroad site and location of a pivotal Civil War battle is a consummate example of the importance of Untold Stories and our efforts to accurately interpret the Commonwealth’s cultural resources.
Pennsylvania’s 12 heritage areas were the recipients of a $5 million investment in Governor Shapiro’s budget, a critical move ahead of the America 250 celebrations, which will showcase the amazing wealth of history and culture in Pennsylvania.
The Conservation Landscape Program celebrated many victories in 2025, making new connections to the public through focused vital conservation efforts.
A triumph the Harrisburg region within the Kittatinny Ridge Conservation landscape, includes the conservation Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain Preserve in Cumberland County, which was supported by DCNR grant funding, and of 509 acres that are a part of the Susquehanna Water Gap, which are now managed by our partner agency, the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Both sides of the Susquehanna Water Gap are now conserved and available for public use.
We also signed a 35-year lease with the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship to operate gift shops at two popular state parks – Kinzua Bridge and Leonard Harrison – in northcentral Pennsylvania.
(By the way, Kinzua Bridge’s Skywalk is in the middle of a major makeover, but we plan to again pause rehabilitation work on the bridge to enjoy fall foliage in 2026.)
Finally, our team in the Bureau of Geological Survey continues to lead in the planning and scientific studies furthering Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage efforts, and monitoring its potential to slow climate change by trapping carbon dioxide emissions where it is produced at factories and fossil-fuel-burning power plants so that the greenhouse gas isn’t released into the air.
What I outlined here is just a fraction of the great work DCNR employees do throughout the year.
You can learn more about the agency’s 2025 accomplishments on DCNR’s website, and even that recap only scratches the surface.
DCNR staff are exemplary public servants who provide top-notch commitment to stewarding the Commonwealth’s wonderful natural resources.
They work tirelessly to ensure the projects and programs highlighted in this report (and more!) get done on behalf of the 13 million Pennsylvanians and millions of visitors who love the experiences the outdoors provide.
If you’re interested in keeping up with the latest happenings of DCNR, I encourage you to check out our social media accounts.
We have created Facebook accounts for each park and forest district to help share the latest information and media from across the Commonwealth.
I hope to see you out at a park, on a forest trail, and in the community as we work together to ensure our mission to conserve and sustain Pennsylvania's natural resources for present and future generations' use and enjoyment is actualized.
See you in 2026!
Click Here for a copy of the DCNR 2026 Annual Report on Linkedin [PDF of Article].
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.
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP Invests $17.3 Million In 89 Local Growing Greener Projects In 40 Counties To Restore Streams, Reclaim Abandoned Mine Land, Improve Fish, Wildlife Habitats [PaEN]
-- Commonwealth Financing Authority Invests $110 Million In 445 Small Water, Sewer, Stormwater, Flood Control Projects; Multimodal Transportation Funding Also Approved [PaEN]
-- ClearWater Conservancy: Building Our Future Home While Staying True To Our Conservation Mission [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Morning Call: Seeking Solitude? Go For A Winter Hike On These Lehigh Valley Trails
-- Susquehanna Greenway: From The Susquehanna To Katahdin: A Pennsylvania Thru-Hiker’s Journey On The Appalachian Trail
-- Williamsport Sun: River Trip Helped Bring Awareness To West Branch Of Susquehanna [PDF of Article]
-- The Allegheny Front: Early Spring Wildflowers Are Blooming Even Earlier Thanks To Climate Change
-- NextPittsburgh: What Happens At A Beaver County Christmas Tree Farm After The Holidays?
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Earth Conservancy Announces Winners Of Pollinator Seed Packet Design Contest
[Posted: January 22, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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