Natural Lands Trust and MCATO Announce “Growing Greener Communities” Award for Montgomery County
Montgomery County Township to be honored for conservation efforts 
Media, Pa. – Natural Lands Trust and the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials (MCATO) are calling for nominations for the Growing Greener Communities Award, which honors conservation-minded accomplishments by townships in Montgomery County.
The Natural Lands Trust Growing Greener Communities Award was developed in 2013 to recognize municipalities that have engaged in dynamic initiatives to save land, steward natural resources, and/or connect people to nature. The award will be presented at the spring MCATO conference on February 26, 2016.
Said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust. “We believe it’s important to recognize the excellent work happening at the township level and celebrate the dedicated officials, staff, and volunteers who make it possible.”
Last year, Montgomery Township received the Growing Greener Communities Award in recognition of the municipality’s conservation achievements. Their remarkable assemblage of 13 municipal parks and protected natural areas make up almost 730 acres of permanently conserved land, almost 500 of which are managed as publicly accessible parkland. The municipality’s exemplary conservation, stewardship, and engagement efforts over more than a decade allowed their submission to shine within the strong group of nominated projects completed in Montgomery County municipalities. The review committee was unanimous in its decision.
“We are pleased to partner with Natural Lands Trust on this award program, and hope that it serves to encourage and promote continued forward-thinking projects and planning within the County,” said Daniel Littley, president of MCATO.
Examples of qualifying projects include:
• Dynamic utilization of open space, such as a community garden or multi-use trail
• Efforts to care for land and water, such as a stream clean up, riparian buffer planting, meadow naturalization, or environmentally sensitive stormwater management
• Progressive, conservation-minded planning, such as ordinances that preserve community green space or improve commercial corridors with shade trees and other greening elements
Details on the award program and nomination forms can be found on Natural Lands Trust’s website at www.natlands.org/ggcaward or by calling 610-353-5587 ext. 267. Nominations must be received by January 4, 2016.
ABOUT: Natural Lands Trust is the region’s largest land conservation organization and is dedicated to protecting the forests, fields, streams, and wetlands that are essential to the sustainability of life in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Since its founding in 1953, Natural Lands Trust has preserved more than 100,000 acres, including 42 nature preserves totaling nearly 22,000 acres. Today, millions of people enjoy the healthy habitats, clean air and water, bountiful recreational opportunities, and scenic beauty provided by the lands the organization has preserved. For more information, visit www.natlands.org.
For more information, contact:
Kirsten Werner, Director of Communications
610-353-5587, ext. 267
267-222-0072
kwerner@natlands.org
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