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History The North Branch Land Trust (commonly referred to as NBLT) is a conservation easement group that aims to buy the developing rights to land in the Back Mountain area of the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania. The North Branch Land Trust works to conserve the landscapes that sustain us through the landowners and their communities. The NBLT originated in 1993 when friends and neighbors wanted a way to protect their land from developers. In 1995 a couple looking to preserve their 43-acre farm near Shickshinny in Luzerne County became the first of many properties conserved by the North Branch Land Trust. In 1996 the Land Trust brought a professional to the team, Linda Thoma, who still serves as the Operations Director. The Land Trust began to grow from there. 2003 brought an anonymous gift to the Land Trust, which helped the team bring on Rick Koval, a Land Protection Specialist and well-known Naturalist, who helps to survey the lands before they buy the rights to the land. Soon thereafter, 2004 brought four new conservation easements, exceeding 3,400 acres and included some of the most “biologically diverse and critically important natural lands in the region. In 2006, North Branch hired Executive Director, Frank Oliver to “combine his love of conservation with his years of experience as a consultant, helping nonprofit organizations accomplish their goals.” In the past 10 years North Branch has gone from 45 members to 450 members. This is the only way nonprofit organizations (like NBLT) earn money.

Mission The North Branch Land Trust’s mission is to help landowners conserve their property and help communities “develop smart growth strategies for the benefit of their citizens.” The official Mission Statement of the organization states: “The North Branch Land Trust works in partnership with landowners and their communities to conserve the scenic, natural and working landscapes that sustain us.” NBLT aims for the long-term management of natural resources by the conserving and preserving forests and woodlands, watersheds and waterways, wildlife habitat, agricultural lands and open space in both rural and urban areas. The North Branch protects and enhances scenic natural beauty and cultural landmarks throughout the Back Mountain. The land owned by the NBLT is for public use at any time during the year. Anyone may use the trails and land at their leisure. The North Branch intends to preserve these lands for the use of the community and the protection of the land.

Conserved Lands Since the North Branch Land Trust has been conserving lands there has been a total of 53 properties and 10,831 acres, across eight counties in the Northeastern region of Pennsylvania conserved. That does not include the 1,250 acres that the North Branch owns completely. In these counties, countless properties have environmental treasures that are nearly extinct. Such as “spring seeps, vernal pools, acidic shrub swamps, rare red spruce swamps, and an extremely rare glacial kettle bog.” This all consumes one property, Bear Creek Camp in Luzerne County. (Expand)

Watershed In the Northeastern part of Pennsylvania the watershed is the north branch of the Susquehanna River and the Delaware watershed. Some of the properties eventually end up in the Susquehanna River and the other in the Delaware River, which is one of the very reasons the North Branch Land Trust formed. The purpose of the Land Trust is to not only protect the land from being ruined by developers, but also protect the land and rivers downstream and throughout the rest of that side of the state. By protecting the land, the streams can stay free of pollution from humans and construction. The Bureau of Conservation and Restoration is a department through the state of Pennsylvania “that aims to bring polluted streams and lakes off of the impaired waters list.”

Fundraising For this non-profit organization fundraising is a crucial aspect to their company. Each year there are multiple fundraising events such as the river trip on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River in July, the annual dinner and silent auction, and other dinner events. The river trip is by donations only besides the cost of the rentals for the boats. For the dinner events there is an upfront cost and after that free-will donations and the money raised by the silent auction. The North Branch Land Trust depends on these fundraising events to keep this organization alive.