Our Work

The most direct County-led efforts to conserve land are directed by the Cumberland County Planning Department, and include:

• The Agricultural Conservation Easement (ACE) Program, which protects viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements to preserve the land for agricultural production in perpetuity.

• The Land Partnerships Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to municipalities and non-profit organizations for the purpose of agriculture preservation, natural resource protection, creation of parks, trails & greenways and planning and ordinance assistance projects.

The Environment section of the Cumberland County website contains a complete list of plans and programs aimed at conservation and stewardship of natural resources for public benefit.

Land conservation does not happen in a vacuum - it requires the cooperation of many, many donors and volunteers! The primary way you can contribute to land conservation in Cumberland County is by donating to or volunteering with an existing organization that you have an interest in. The About page of this website offers a comprehensive list of conservation organizations currently operating in Cumberland County.

Sharing concerns or support for land conservation with public officials is another great way of effecting local decision-making related to land conservation. Attending public meetings is a great way to make your voice heard! The County-hosted Calendar of Events is a good place to learn about public meetings, and most Boroughs and Townships have websites with similar calendars specific to their jurisdiction.

The two organizations which preserve land in Cumberland County are the County itself, through its Agricultural Land Preservation Board, and the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, which is a donor-supported non-profit land trust operating in Cumberland, Franklin, and Perry Counties. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about options for land preservation, we recommend reaching out to one of these organizations for more information.

There are a number of trail-focused organizations in Cumberland County, including the Keystone Trail Association, the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and the Mountain Club of Maryland. While most organizations are involved in maintaining and expanding mountain trails, the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail Council is actively working to establish a continuous rail-trail through the Cumberland Valley. The Letort Regional Authority owns and stewards the Letort Nature Trail, a 2.5 mile rail trail which follows the Letort Spring Run from Letort Park in downtown Carlisle to South Spring Garden Street and Heisers Lane in South Middleton Township.

Many of the groups mentioned above hold group hiking events and trail maintenance projects which are open to the public. These events are great opportunities to learn more about the organization’s work, their trails, and their mission. We’d recommend getting in touch with these organizations if you’d like to learn how to get involved.

If you would like to become a conservation volunteer in your community, consider participating in the Penn State Extension's Master Watershed Stewards Program for the the Cumberland Valley (Cumberland, Franklin, and Adams Counties). Accepted applicants will participate in a 40-hour training program focused on water resources with an emphasis on how to complete projects in the field, such as stream restoration plantings and maintenance, stream clean-ups, wildlife community science monitoring, performing water quality assessments, and participating in the work of local watershed associations and environmental advisory councils.

No prior scientific background is required. To become a certified steward, participants must also complete 20 hours of volunteer service at the end of the program and complete at least 10 hours each year after that. The program provides placement services and offers a volunteer portal of opportunities to choose from. Want to learn more? Please contact Natalie Marioni at nkm5342@psu.edu with questions.