Attitudes about Land Conservation in Counties Contiguous with the Susquehanna River

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

This presentation provides an overview of the assets, attitudes, challenges, and opportunities associated with and for land conservation throughout selected counties in the Susquehanna River watershed. Qualitative data was gathered through interviews with key informants from land conservation organizations in counties contiguous to the river throughout New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Interviews were carried out in 19 of the 22 river counties. Interviewees were recruited from a list of conservation officials and leaders put together by the principal investigator. In total, fifty-eight interviews were completed. These interviews provide a rich and contextualized understanding of how land use and land conservation practices vary across these counties. Findings of this research have been shared with the Chesapeake Conservancy as they develop their Envision the Susquehanna project. Funding for the research was provided by the Chesapeake Conservancy.