Environmental Resources

Environmental News

Environmental News Network: www.enn.com – the latest environmental news from around the world.

Environment News Service: www.ens-newswire.com– an international environmental news source.

Grist: www.grist.org – environmental news, commentary and humor.

The Daily Green: www.thedailygreen.com – consumer tips about living an eco-friendly lifestyle; also, links to many “green” blogs.

Living on Earth: www.loe.org – this weekly environmental news and information program distributed by Public Radio International includes features, interviews and commentary on a broad range of ecological issues. Transcripts and audio downloads are available through the website.

Tree Hugger: www.treehugger.com – information about the green movement.

Environmental Watchdogs

Organic Consumers Association: www.organicconsumers.org – a grassroots non-profit organization that speaks for organic and family farmers; it also organizes its membership for political actions such as boycotts.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): www.depweb.state.pa.us — the state agency largely responsible for administering Pennsylvania’s environmental laws and regulations. Its responsibilities include: reducing air pollution; making sure our drinking water is safe; protecting water quality in our rivers and streams; making sure waste is handled properly and supporting community renewal and revitalization; promoting advanced energy technology; and helping citizens prevent pollution and comply with the Commonwealth’s environmental regulations.

Sierra Club, Pennsylvania chapter: pennsylvania.sierraclub.org — Together with Clean Water Action (www.cleanwateraction.org/pa), this environmental advocacy group keeps environmental “scorecards” showing the voting records of Pennsylvania’s politicians on issues that impact the natural world, such as alternative energy and mass transportation.

Environmental Education

Monroe County Environmental Education Centerwww.mcconservation.org — The Monroe County Conservation District’s Environmental Education Center provides year-round environmental education programs for people of all ages. The Education Centeris located at the County-owned Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary near Bartonsville.

The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education (PCEE): www.pcee.org A virtual “one stop shop” for environmental education resources in Pennsylvania. Administered by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, PCEE is housed at Slippery Rock University.

Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE): www.eeresources.net

Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/jacobsburg/index.htm — a 1,168-acre Pennsylvania state park, located near Wind Gap, which provides environmental education to local residents and students of all ages.

Farming

· Cherry Valley Community Supported Agriculture: www.cherryvalleycsa.com — this farm located near Stroudsburg finished its second season of production in 2008 and now serves 100 local subscribers.

·Genesis Farm: www.genesisfarm.org – a 226-acre organic farm in Northwestern New Jersey with an environmental learning center and community supported garden. The center offers a variety of residential and non-residential programs, including an accredited masters-level course in Earth Literacy.

·Local Harvest: www.localharvest.org – a searchable nationwide database of small farms and farmers’ markets that is intended to help consumers find locally grown food sources.

·Monroe Farmer’s Market: www.monroefarmersmarket.com – From April to November, local eggs, vegetables, fruit, honey, baked goods, and other products created in the Monroe County area are offered at this market located one block south of Main Street at the Ann Street outlet complex.

·Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA): www.pasafarming.org — PASA creates networks and markets to strengthen the ties between concerned consumers and family farmers.It seeks to enhance community awareness about the importance of local and sustainable agriculture. Farmers are included in designing community-based marketing strategies that increase consumption of Pennsylvania farm products and farm profitability.

·Rodale Institute: www.hero-farmers.org. A 333-acre organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania devoted to research, education and certified organic production. The farm is perhaps best known for its Farming Systems Trial, the longest-running U.S. experiment specifically designed to compare organic and conventional farming practices.

Fuel Economy

·Fuel Economy: www.fueleconomy.org – The Web site contains an electronic version of the Fuel Economy Guide and features updated fuel economy data for new and used passenger vehicles dating back to 1985, allows side-by-sidevehicle comparisons, and offers fuel-saving tips.

.Fuel Economy: www.fueleconomy.gov – FuelEconomy.gov is federal government website that helps consumers make informed fuel economy choices when purchasing a vehicle and helps them achieve the best fuel economy possible from the cars they own.

“Green” Shopping

·The National Green Pages™: www.greenpages.org — a searchable directory listing nearly 3,000 businesses that market products grown or made using specified political or “eco-friendly” principles.

Land Conservation Advocates

·Friends of Cherry Valley: www.friendsofcherryvalley.com – This local grassroots organization has supported the establishment of a National Wildlife Refuge for greater Cherry Valley.

· Heritage Conservancy: www.heritageconservancy.org – this organization undertakes natural resource protection and historic preservation projects throughout eastern Pennsylvania and western central New Jersey, with activity in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and York Counties in Pennsylvania and in Hunterdon, Morris, Sussex, and Warren Counties in New Jersey. It also participates in green urban planning, agricultural land protection, innovative sustainable land use practices, preservation and/or adaptive re-use of historic structures, wildlife habitat restoration and best land management practices.

·The Nature Conservancy of Pennsylvania: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/pennsylvania/ — Since its inception in Pennsylvania, the Nature Conservancy has protected globally rare communities like the serpentine barrens along the southeastern Pennsylvania/Maryland state line and the vernal pools of the Minsi Lake Corridor in Northampton County. Such sites host a disproportionately large share of Pennsylvania’s globally rare species. In Monroe County, Long Pond and the Tunkhannock Creek Watershed have been protected with help from the Nature Conservancy.

· Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR):www.dcnr.state.pa.us — a state agency charged with maintaining and preserving 116 state parks; managing 2.1 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space and natural areas. This organization has also recently produced studies about innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gases, such as carbon sequestration and harvesting forest biomass for energy. These studies are available in full text on this website.

· Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC): www.pecpa.org — PEC protects and restores the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education and advocacy.

· The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association (PALTA): www.conserveland.org – PALTA seeks to increase the quality and pace of land conservation by helping conservation practitioners improve their effectiveness, build public understanding, and advocate for better governmental policy.

· Pocono Heritage Land Trust (PHLT): www.phlt.org — a locally based non-profit conservation group funded by grants, donations and the contributions of its corporate and individual members. This organization is dedicated to protecting important lands and waters, open space, agricultural landscapes and the natural heritage of the Pocono Mountains region.

· Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) – http://www.state.nj.us/drbc/

Recycling & Reusing Materials

· Pocono Freecycle (groups.yahoo.com/group/PoconoFreecycle) – Pocono Freecycle is part of a nationwide, grassroots, nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) free cast-offs in their own towns. The goal is keeping usable goods out of landfills. There are other nearby Freecycle groups that you might wish to join – see www.freecycle.org to find them. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free.

Trails & Alternative Transportation

· The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC): www.outdoors.org — The nation’s oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization. This group maintains over 1,700 miles of trails throughout the Northeast, including nearly 350 miles of the Appalachian Trail in five states. Opportunities for volunteering are available. AMC offers many group recreational activities, such as hiking, biking, and skiing.

· The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC): www.appalachiantrail.org — a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the preservation and management of the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources associated with the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in order to provide primitive outdoor-recreation and educational opportunities for Trail visitors.

· Keystone Trails Association (KTA): www.kta-hike.org — this volunteer-directed, public service organization is a federation of membership organizations and individuals dedicated to providing, preserving, protecting and promoting recreational hiking trails and hiking opportunities in Pennsylvania, and to representing and advocating the interests and concerns of the Pennsylvania hiking community. KTA maintains a close working relationship with state agencies and other organizations engaged in the business of trails.

· Pocono Outdoor Club (POC): www.poconooutdoorclub.org — Members of this club enjoy hiking, camping, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, canoeing, and maintaining area trails. They are advocates for area trails who seek to work with local agencies and land managers to develop more recreational trails.

· Rails to Trails Conservancy (RTC): www.railstotrails.org – RTC works with communities to preserve unused rail corridors by transforming them into trails, enhancing the health of America’s environment, economy, neighborhoods and people. This website contains a free searchable database of nationwide rail trails.

Water Quality

·The Brodhead Watershed Association (BWA): www.brodheadwatershed.org — a non-profit Monroe County organization dedicated to protecting and improving water resources and the environment in the Brodhead and Cherry creek watershed. The BWA assists municipalities, residents, businesses and groups with protecting natural resources through education, workshops, seminars, public programs, stream monitoring and baseline data collection and stream cleanups. This site contains real-time stream flow data, maps of Monroe County’s water resources, and the Brodhead Watershed Conservation Plan.

· Clean Water Action: www.cleanwateraction.org/pa — Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club have scored all Pennsylvania legislators on their votes on air quality, clean energy, transportation, open space, and more. These “scorecards” are available through the CWA website. Clean Water Action also draws public attention to issues such as the BoRit Asbestos Site, located by the Wissahickon Creek, which the EPA has proposed adding to the Superfund National Priorities List.

· Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN): www.delawareriverkeeper.org — DRN’s professional staff and volunteers provide environmental advocacy, volunteer monitoring programs, stream restoration projects and public education throughout the entire Delaware River Watershed, including portions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York.

· Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water: www.pacleanwatercampaign.org — a coalition of over 130 environmental, conservation, sporting, and religious groups from all corners of the state that speaks in one voice in support of federal and state policies to protect and restore Pennsylvania’s water resources.

· Tobyhanna Creek / Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Association (TC/TCWA): www.tctcwa.org – the all-volunteer TC/TCWA seeks to protect the waters, woodlands and wildlife in the 125 square mile Tobyhanna Creek/Tunkhannock Creek Watershed on top of the Pocono Plateau. Fifteen volunteers monitor twenty-three stream sites on a monthly basis.