Transferred Lands

North Branch Land Trust is in a unique position to not only conserve land outright, but also work with other regional partners to achieve our mission of conserving the lands, waters, and skies that sustain us here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“Transferred” means that North Branch owned the property for a time before finding the right long-term conservation home with a partner like the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Sometimes, North Branch only “owns” a property on paper for a short moment to facilitate conservation, while other times it can take years before the right partner comes along.

Click on the postcards below to see the latest on lands North Branch has helped conserve!

Vosburg Neck State Park

Formerly Howland Preserve

North Branch Land Trust was willed ownership of the property on June 29, 2003, after the passing of Mr. Ernest “Ernie” Howland. The property had been orchards, farms, a cargo thoroughfare, and a high-end angler’s destination before becoming Howland Preserve.

In 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources worked with North Branch Land Trust and Senator Lisa Baker to realize Howland Preserve’s full potential as Vosburg Neck State Park, Wyoming County’s first State Park. North Branch Land Trust is honored to be a small piece of this impressive property’s history.

Wanamie Tract Pinchot State Forest

Formerly Little Wilkes Barre Mountain

In 2016, North Branch Land Trust and Earth Conservancy teamed up on a grant that would conserve more than 1,000 acres of forested land along the Penobscot Ridge Highlands in Newport Township Luzerne County. This property and other nearby lands owned by Earth Conservancy have undergone reclamation, as the area has a history of coal mining.

In 2018, this property was transferred to the PA Bureau of Forestry as the “Wanamie Tract”.  Today, the “Wanamie Tract” is a part of the 50,000-acre Pinchot State Forest that spans Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties. If you’re a biker, be sure to check out the adjoining Penobscot Ridge Trail! 

Montage Tract Pinchot State Forest

Formerly Montage Mountain Wildflower Sanctuary

North Branch Land Trust accepted ownership of the 18-acre sanctuary along the Luzerne-Lackawanna County lines in 2010. The majority of the property contains a mixed oak forest along Spring Brook Creek. Within the forest are impressive rock formations deposited by the last glacial retreat over 10, 000 years ago. Most importantly, the Sanctuary hosts exposed rocky openings necessary for plants like Appalachian sandwort, pitch pine, scrub oak, black huckleberry, wooly blue violet, and earthstar mushroom.

In 2021, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry took over the long-term conservation of the property as part of the larger Pinchot State Forest System. The Montage Mountain Wildflower Sanctuary is now an important piece of the 7,500-acre Montage Tract.