Pennsylvania Governor Appoints Nature Task Force
PRNewswire-USNewswire – March 20, 2007
By Barry Ciccocioppo
Governor Edward G. Rendell announced tonight, at the conclusion of the Governor's Outdoor
Conference, that he is appointing a task force to organize and coordinate five statewide public meetings to present findings from the
conference and solicit additional ideas and recommendations about keeping people connected to nature.
The task force will be co-chaired by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Dr. Douglas Austen and Caren Glotfelty, who directs the Heinz Foundation's Environment Program.
"The Outdoor Conference was the first step toward addressing disturbing trends that indicate the bond between our citizens and our bountiful
natural resources is weakening," Governor Rendell said. "We realiz that we have only begun the work to solve these issues with this threeday conference, so we are committing to follow up the conference by engaging the public in a broader dialogue.
"I am expecting that information gleaned from the conference and the post-conference meetings will be incorporated into a final report with
recommendations for action and be presented to me by the end of this year," the Governor said.
The public meetings will be held in late spring in Erie, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton. "The conference participants did
an excellent job laying a foundation for a broader conversation about protecting and enhancing our natural heritage and relationship with the
outdoors," Governor Rendell said. "These issues have the potential to impact so many things, including children's health, the vitality of our
rural areas, our quality of life and the future of the state's billiondollar hunting industry."
Approximately 300 people, including policy makers, business representatives, sportsmen's groups, conservation organizations and
representatives of the health and education sectors, participated in the first-of-its-kind Governor's Outdoor Conference in State College, which opened March 18.
The conference included panel discussions around issues, trends and impacts on the first full day, and interactive workshops that explored solutions on the second day.
The conference Web site will provide full access to the information presented at the conference once it is processed. Online forums will
continue to provide opportunities to engage in a meaningful discussion about improving connections between Pennsylvanians and the outdoors. Visit http://www.connectoutdoors.state.pa.us/
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and
continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and
to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.
CONTACT:
Barry Ciccocioppo
717-783-1116
Christina Novak (DCNR)
717-772-9101
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C&NN has designated April "Children & Nature Awareness Month." As part of this effort, we invited network members (like you) to list their April programs and share their strategies for building public awareness. Find out what's happening in your community on the C&NN Movement Map.
As part of our ongoing efforts to build the movement, the Children & Nature Network has published two new resources for leaders, organizers, and participants at the local, national, and international levels:
An annotated bibliography of 20 premier studies focusing on the children and nature connection.
