Delaware Nature Society, Inc.

Geographic areas served: Delaware, Southeastern Pa, Northeastern MD, Southern NJ

Programs: Education:delaware nature society offers over 400 year-round environmental science, natural history, agriculture, and cultural history hands-on programs for all ages. The society operates the ashland nature center, coverdale farm, abbott's mill nature center and the dupont environmental education center. Programming is also offered at cooch-dayett mills. Additional programs are provided at other regional and international habitats. Over 52,500 contacts annually are made with members, students, and public group participants, and another 40,000 visitors, professionals, legislators, and conference participants are involved as well.

preservation & conservation:the land preservation program focuses on the preservation of ecologically significant natural areas and protection of delaware's biodiversity. Currently, the nature society holds conservation easements and deed restrictions totaling approximately 500 acres. The society also provides leadership for the preservation of significant natural and agricultural areas throughout the state of delaware. The watershed stewardship program is comprised of stream adoption, technical monitoring, and backyard habitat. Stream adoption educates individuals and groups about stream ecology and what people's roles are in protecting water quality. Currently, 70 stream segments are "adopted" statewide. Technical monitoring is a nationally recognized use of citizen science data by the state and the environmental protection agency (epa) to monitor watershed health. Technical monitoring data is currently being collected at 38 sites. Backyard habitat provides official certification for properties or residences that provide for wildlife to raise their young and where owners practice resource conservation. To date, more than 400 properties have been certified, ranging from urban to suburban across all three delaware counties. The advocacy program monitors over 50 environmental issues and takes positions and acts on federal, state, and local issues affecting the quality of our environment. It helps create and facilitate networks among community, industry and government groups for solutions to environmental problems.

land & biodiversity management:the delaware nature society manages over 1,900 acres of land in delaware and southeast pennsylvania. Management goals include the protection and enhancement of natural biodiversity, utilization of the land for environmental education and promotion of responsible environmental stewardship. Surveys and monitoring of flora and fauna are conducted on all properties and the conservation of rare and or uncommon fauna and flora and their habitats is a high management priority. Invasive alien plant control projects are ongoing on all sites and a whitetail deer management strategy has been developed and implemented. Restoration of meadow and woodland areas is a high priority. Yearly management plans are developed for each site and are used by staff to guide land management operations.