Saving 72-Acre Forest Along Kittatinny Ridge

The 72-acre Recica property, once adjacent to state game lands, is now owned by the PA Game Commission.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Conservation Success of Carbon County Open Space Grant Program

MEDIA, Pa., June 9, 2025 – Carbon County, PA, and Natural Lands announced today completion of the first conservation project to come to fruition through the county’s new Open Space Grant Program. Natural Lands purchased a once-vulnerable, 72-acre wooded property in East Penn Township using grant funds from the program and immediately transferred it to the PA Game Commission as an addition to Game Lands No. 217. The property will be open to the public for recreation and hunting and will remain preserved forever.

Known as the Recica property, the land consists of mature hardwood forest that lies within the state-designated Kittatinny Ridge Conservation Landscape and the Audubon-designated Kittatinny Ridge Important Bird Area.

The Kittatinny Ridge, which means “endless mountain” in Lenape, is the largest forested landscape in southcentral and eastern Pennsylvania, stretching 185 miles across 360,000 acres. It offers migration and stopover habitat for millions of songbirds and raptors each spring and fall. Tens-of-thousands of birds of prey—including the state-endangered Northern Goshawk—travel the ridge, using rising thermals to aid them in their long flights.

The upland forest of the ridge offers a year-round home to Pennsylvania’s state bird, the Ruffed Grouse, and is designated as a Global Important Bird Area because of its globally significant migratory route for Cerulean Warblers. From hummingbirds and warblers to raptors and game birds, the Kittatinny Ridge is a crucial landscape for more than 140 resident and migrant bird species

The forested habitat naturally cleans and cools the air, filters pollutants from the water, and helps control flooding during storms.

“Nearly two-thirds of the Kittatinny Ridge are privately owned by thousands of individual landowners,” said Jack Stefferud, senior advisor of land protection for Natural Lands. “What’s more, the region includes nine of the top 20 fastest growing counties in the state, making it vulnerable to both residential and commercial development. Thanks to the voters, this project is just the beginning of preserving land in Carbon County.”

During the November 2022 election, an astounding 83 percent of voters supported the Carbon County Water, Farms, and Land referendum, which established a conservation program to preserve open space, clean water, and wildlife habitat. It allows Carbon County to borrow up to $10 million.

“The Recica acquisition is a great first Carbon County Open Space Preservation project. The pristine outdoors are not only important to Carbon County residents’ quality of life, but also have key economic benefits for the county as a whole,” said Carbon County Commissioner Mike Sofranko. “In Carbon County, outdoor recreation—from hiking and biking to hunting and fishing—is something that brings families together. Being able to preserve these spaces for generations to come is something that the Commissioners are grateful to be a part of.”

In addition to funds provided by the Open Space Grant Program, Commissioners of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, the PA Game Commission provided support.

“Not only does this property further conserve and protect the forested Kittatinny Ridge, an important migratory corridor, but also creates an additional buffer to the existing State Game Lands 217, protecting it from development and creation of safety zones, while providing additional acreage for hunting and trapping,” said Steve Ferreri, southeast region land management supervisor for the PA Game Commission. “Managing wildlife habitats, for all species, is at the core of what the Game Commission does, and the partnership with Natural Lands continues to prove invaluable for those efforts.”

“As a lifelong outdoorsman and supporter of Pennsylvania’s rich hunting and conservation traditions, I’m proud to have played a role in protecting this land,” said Chad Fritzinger of Koehler Marvin Realty, representing the landowner. “Helping transfer it into the care of the Game Commission means it will be enjoyed by generations of hunters, hikers, and nature lovers to come.”

Natural Lands is dedicated to preserving and nurturing nature’s wonders while creating opportunities for joy and discovery in the outdoors for everyone.  As the Greater Philadelphia region’s oldest and largest land conservation organization, Natural Lands—which is member supported—has preserved more than 136,600 acres, including 40+ nature preserves and one public garden totaling more than 23,600 acres. About five million people live within five miles of land under the organization’s protection. Land for life, nature for all.

Please note: “Natural Lands” is the organization’s official operating name and should be used instead of its legal designation (Natural Lands Trust, Inc.).

Media Inquiries:

Kit Werner, Senior Director of Communications
Natural Lands
610-353-5587 ext. 267

Anna Shigo, Open Space Coordinator
Carbon County Office of Planning and Development
570-325-3671 ext. 4466

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