Love is in the Air in the Susquehanna Riverlands!

A love of nature! We all have fond memories that are centered around our time spent wondering in the natural world. Nature provides for us in so many ways.  We are thankful for the breaths of fresh air, solitude, and respite, always available in its never-ending hills and valleys.

Everyone is connected to the natural systems of our environment; we all have something at stake. Conservation is a commitment to preserve, protect and restore our natural environment and resources. It means making changes and taking the time to reflect on our personal impact on the environment. There are many small changes or daily actions you can start to do. It may not seem like much, but if we all commit together, our small acts can have a lasting impact.

Preserve

Recycle

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” —Margaret Mead

When you recycle, you are helping to preserve our natural resources and environment. Recycling is an important part of conservation. Large scale recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators by creating new useful products with less harm to the environment.  Reusing processed materials conserves natural resources such as timber and water, saves energy and prevents pollution.

It’s important to recycle right because the items collected are going to be processed into new products. That means not every item is able to be recycled. Only corrugated cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs with a neck, metal food and beverage cans and glass bottles and jars should be placed in your recycling bin. When shopping, remember select products that can be easily recycled, and products that contain recycled content.

Learn more about recycling right in Lancaster County here: https://www.lcswma.org/recycling/.
Learn more about recycling right in York County here: https://www.pennwaste.com/recycling/ .

Preserve Water

“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” —Barbara Ward

Water plays a big role in our communities. The Susquehanna River Basin supplies 61 million people with water. All water starts out as rain or snow and flows into our local lakes, rivers, and streams or into underground aquifers. A network of pipes, canals, and pumping stations managed by our public water systems bring a reliable supply of water to our taps. Excess water use has caused water shortages and droughts nationwide. Water conservation is essential to preserve our water supply. Advances in water saving technologies and simple changes help ensure sensible water usage.  Everyone can participate in preserving water resources to help ensure reliable water supplies for future generations.

  • Wasted water costs more than just money, start with fixing any leaks in your home.
  • Replace outdated major appliances with more efficient models that use less water and energy.
  • Conserve water and money by trying a different technique for lawn care like, a living lawn, native meadow grasses, or a pollinator garden.

Learn more about simple changes you can make to conserve water at: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-kids#tab-4.

Protect

Leave No Trace

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall

The 7 principles of Leave No Trace are the standard for outdoor ethics among outdoors enthusiasts. Leave No Trace supports conservation by teaching responsible outdoor etiquette. These guiding principles ensure that nature is protected for all to enjoy. Anytime you are in nature you should employ these principles. Learn more about Leave No Trace outdoor ethics here: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/.

 

 

Use Less Electricity

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt

The impacts of electricity production have caused extensive damage to our environment. The emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, especially when a fuel is burned are affecting our climate and air quality. The use of water resources to produce steam, provide cooling, and serve other functions can dramatically affect waterways. There are a variety of methods to use power more efficiently. Many alternative energy options are available, like solar, wind and geothermal technologies to best fit our energy needs. Energy saving technologies are an important tool in conserving electricity, which protects our environment.

Upgrading outdated major appliances to more energy efficient models, replacing old lightbulbs with LED ones, and installing a programmable thermostat protect our environment by using energy more responsibly in our homes. Try to cut back on wasting power by unplugging electronics, adapting better cooling and heating practices, and avoiding using electricity during peak times of the day to curb excessive electricity consumption.

Learn more here; https://www.gvec.org/the-five-most-impactful-ways-to-conserve-electricity/.

Restore

Support Local Conservation Efforts 

“The ultimate test of man’s conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.” —Gaylord Nelson

Conservation needs action from government and compliance on a global scale but individual action is essential, and helps initiate major improvements in our communities.  There are a lot of dedicated organizations and individuals working hard to protect nature, but they cannot do it alone. You can support conservation efforts by donating to nonprofit and other organizations fighting for change or you can choose to volunteer with many of them.

Volunteer for a Cleanup

“A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children.” -John J. Audubon

Each one of us can step up and take action to restore our natural spaces.  Actions big and small, get us one step closer to our goal. Every time you take a hike you can pick up trash you find along the trail, adopt a highway or waterway to keep clean, or plant a pollinator garden. Ask your family and friends to get involved by helping you clean up a local trail or park. Start a community group to organize larger scale clean ups or teach better conservation practices to the community in your free time.

Inspire others

“Conservation means the wise use of the earth and its resources for the lasting good of men.” – Gifford Pinchot

There are a million reasons to love and support conservation! Passion is contagious, voicing your conservation concerns with others might ignite their passion to join in the efforts to preserve, protect and restore our environment. Share what you have learned with your family, friends and community. Your efforts will inspire others to become conservation conscious too. Inspiration comes from awareness, we do not have an infinite supply of resources but if together we can reduce our consumption and support conservation we have taken steps to restore balance with nature.