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We are a member-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the region’s waters, forests, natural areas and wildlife, planting community trees, gardens and greenspaces, and caring for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. |
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Green Isn’t Always Good! Help Manage Invasive Species |
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If you’ve ever smelled a stinkbug, struggled to remove knotweed, witnessed trees succumb to hemlock wooly adelgid or seen round goby in Lake Erie, you’ve unfortunately encountered invasive species—just like Noah Yawn, a WPC ecologist with the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, pictured here "encountering" invasive phragmites!
Introduced to an area outside their native range, invasive species threaten Pennsylvania’s native plants and animals by competing for space and food. They obstruct waterways, destroy agricultural crops, introduce disease and overrun yards and parks, can trick people, pollinators and animals by evolving to look similar to native species, worsen the effects of climate change and threaten biodiversity.
Together, we can manage invasive species!
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Our staff manages PA iMapInvasives, a free database administered by our Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program staff. The data helps agencies and organizations create management plans and informs state and local distributions for nearly 400 invasive species. Participate in the PA iMapInvasives’ Lesser Celandine Seekers event in March and April: Register for the Feb. 27 training.
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Our community greening, watershed conservation and land stewardship staffs plant native plants and trees, and manage invasive species, on our preserves and in local communities. Learn about our work to control hemlock wooly adelgid, which threatens our state tree, and about our partnerships in invasives management across the state.
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Volunteer with us to plant and care for native plants and manage invasive species in your community or on the Fallingwater landscape.
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WPC staff have produced an award-winning documentary, “Seeing The Unseen: Aquatic Invaders & What’s at Stake.” Watch it here, or register for upcoming public screenings, including: Feb. 21 at the Woods & Water Film Series in Edinboro; Mar. 1 at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium; and Mar. 22 at Carnegie Museum of Natural History's Naturefest.
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Watch LinkedIn during Invasive Species Awareness Week, Feb. 24-27, for the opportunity to ask questions of our invasive species experts.
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See our Conservation Tips below for more ways to help!
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 Learn about our work to manage invasive species |
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More Land Protected for Bear Run Nature Reserve and Ohiopyle State Park |
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Outdoor enthusiasts can now enjoy expanded popular outdoor recreation areas in the Laurel Highlands, thanks to our recent protection of two properties, totaling 97 acres, in Stewart Township, Fayette County. The properties further expand hiking, fishing and hunting opportunities at our Bear Run Nature Reserve and Ohiopyle State Park. Located in the Youghiogheny River watershed, both high-elevation forested properties are important for wildlife species’ resilience to climate change. |
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Discover Untold Stories of Underrepresented People |
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In the early 1800s, the Laurel Hill Settlement in Cambria County, also known as Brown Farm, was home to a community of Black, White and Indigenous people for eight generations. The land is now part of Laurel Hill State Park. WPC, in partnership with PA DCNR, the PA Historical & Museum Commission and other partners, has helped advance “Untold Stories of Pennsylvania’s State Parks & Forests.” The project shares the stories of marginalized and underrepresented peoples associated with lands operating as state parks and forests. |
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Reserve a Preservation-in-Progress Tour |
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Have you ever wondered what it takes to restore a house like Fallingwater? You can take a special, pre-season guided preservation tour, Mar. 15 - Apr. 1.
Learn details about its historic construction, past preservation projects and current World Heritage Preserved preservation work.
Also, self-guided Preservation-in-Progress Winter Walks are currently available daily except Wednesdays through Mar. 14 and 2025 Guided Architectural Tours begin Apr. 3. |
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Apply for Internships, Jobs |
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College students can apply now for paid summer internships in watershed conservation, or in landscape architecture, digital multimedia, education and collections at Fallingwater.
And we have job opportunities for seasonal biologists and a land protection manager, as well as in the Fallingwater museum store, café and more.
Seeking career inspiration or change? Register for our free webinar on Mar. 11, “The View From Here: Five Women Discuss Careers in Conservation & Preservation.” |
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Help Redd Up Toms Run! |
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Celebrate International Women's Day on Mar. 8 by helping us to “Redd Up Toms Run!” Join Keystone Trails Association, ToryTalksTrails, HikesAndHopsBlog and WPC for a trail care event at our Toms Run Nature Reserve, just a few miles north of Pittsburgh. We’ll gather in Pittsburgh at 9 a.m. for programming and education, followed by spring cleaning at the preserve.
Help clean up the trail, remove invasive species and enjoy an after-party celebration at Grist Brewing in Pittsburgh! Registration is limited. Learn more and sign up to receive meeting location details. |
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February is for Birders! |
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February is great for birding: Bare trees allow for excellent viewing and the Great Backyard Bird Count incentivizes birders to get outdoors. WPC supports healthy bird populations by maintaining and connecting native habitat through land conservation and forest restoration projects. Our native plantings provide food sources and shelter, and our scientists study migration patterns and populations to inform the State Wildlife Action Plan and support declining populations of some birds such as the Evening Grosbeak. Many WPC preserves are eBird hotspots! |
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Download Winter Images |
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This native milkweed in our Parkway West Greentree garden is “drying and splitting” during the cold weather, an essential process for its germination in spring. The wind carries the seeds to other sites, where they’ll grow to host monarch butterfly larvae and provide nectar for other pollinators.
We’re continuing to plant this and other native perennials in 25 of our community gardens. Planning your own pollinator garden? Watch our recorded webinar.
Download this and other winter images for your virtual background. |
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PROTECT WILD PLACES AND GREEN SPACES |
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Nature Near You Needs You! |
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