Pennsylvania DCNR Secretary Says Plans Already Underway to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change on Public Lands

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn released the following statement related to the Trump Administration's decision today to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord:

"The President's decision to turn our back on an international solutions-oriented agreement to address a changing climate is deeply disappointing," Dunn said. "Without federal leadership on climate change, additional responsibility will fall on states and communities.

"While climate change presents significant challenges, there is much we can and are doing here in Pennsylvania ? from managing our forests to sequester an increasing amount of carbon and ensuring that our public lands remain resilient, to helping private landowners and communities reduce their carbon footprints and adapt to climate change," Dunn said.

DCNR currently is working with the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science to develop a climate change mitigation and adaptation plan for the department.

"As the state's leading conservation agency, DCNR is using the best available science to develop and implement climate change strategies to minimize and adapt to these impacts, and serve as a role model for the citizens of Pennsylvania," Dunn said.

Pennsylvania is experiencing higher temperatures; increased precipitation; higher numbers of storm events; decreased snow cover; and changing distribution of some plants and animals related to climate change.

DCNR is charged with maintaining and protecting 121 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forest land, conservation of native wild plants, and providing information about the state's ecological and geologic resources. The department also provides information, technical advice to private forest landowners and establishes community conservation partnerships through grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, heritage regions, open space, and natural areas.

MEDIA CONTACT: Christina Novak, 717.772.9101

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources