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State of the Environment: Business of Nature 2024

What is nature worth? If we knew, how would this change the way we, as a community, make decisions about our housing, our infrastructure, and our resources?

All too often, natural community assets such as these are taken for granted because of their on-going, reliable, but understated services. But thanks to a new report produced by Greener Planning, the 2023 Berks County Return on the Environment report, our community and land-use decision makers now have the data and tools to not only recognize the benefits of our natural environment, but also to address the challenges and opportunities of protecting and optimizing these services.

The Return on Environment report, and its complementary suite of online planning tools, took center stage at Berks Nature’s 16th Annual State of the Environment Breakfast in November 2024.

This page includes additional resources to better equip the residents of Berks County to become engaged and effective change-makers in their community.

PennFuture

Public Participation, Public Power: A Community Guide to Local Land Use Decision-Making in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, the power to govern land use and development resides almost entirely at the local level; municipal governing bodies wield the power to regulate land use and thus manage our impact on the environment. But local residents too have substantial power to influence these decisions, if they know how.

An informed and involved public is crucial to healthy communities, which is why PennFuture created the Public Participation, Public Power guide. Their publication is designed to empower all people with knowledge to become effective and persuasive forces for change in their local communities.

PA Governor’s Center for Local Government Services

Local Land Use Controls in Pennsylvania: Planning Series #1

The Local Land Use Controls in Pennsylvania (Planning Series Publication #1) is one of a series of 10 planning publications produced by the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services (Center) as a means to educate and train both professionals and non-professionals on the ways that planning and land use management are achieved within the commonwealth.

In its first issue, the Local Land Use Controls in Pennsylvania publication provides an inventory and a basic summary of the key regulatory tools used by municipalities to achieve their community planning and development vision.

Visit the BCPC webpage!

Berks County Planning Commission (BCPC)

Getting involved for the first time? The Berks County Planning Commission (BCPC) is a great place to start.

The BCPC serves as the area-wide planning organization for Berks County. Their responsibilities and services include:

  • Providing regional blueprint for land use, transportation, and community facilities.
  • Assisting local units of government with development and preservation activities.
  • Providing guidance to the Berks County Board of Commissioners and other departments of county government.
  • Serving as community advisors for modern planning practices.
  • Advocating for sound regional growth and management.
  • Coordinating community development issues and projects.

List of Berks County Municipality Pages

Each municipality in Berks County has its own webpage to distribute valuable information and connect with its residents. The Berks County Planning Commission website hosts a full list of Berks County’s municipalities and their corresponding webpage.

Find Your Municipality's Webpage

A schedule of the BCPC’s Public Meetings for each year is posted at the bottom of the homepage. Information on how to participate in these meetings and how to provide comments will be posted when the meeting is listed in the News/Announcements Section of the homepage.

Berks County Comprehensive Plan 2030 Update

The Berks County Comprehensive Plan is a guide to growth and
conservation and assists the Berks County Planning Commission in evaluating various development proposals and requests for financial assistance by local agencies to County, State, and Federal agencies.

The Berks County Greenway, Park And Recreation Plan

The Berks County Greenway, Park and Recreation Plan sets specific goals for the direction Berks County should take to provide future open space, greenways, and recreation for its citizens.

WeConservePA

WeConservePA is a community of conservation volunteers, professionals, and supporters. United around common interests and needs, WeConservePA presents a powerful, local force for conservation. By sharing their vast knowledge and experiences, WeConservePA hopes to equip the commonwealth for better conservation action in the future.

Much of this knowledge is publicly accessible as original guides and model legal documents, available for anyone online at their digital library.

Visit the WeConservePA Library!
Local Land Use Planning Controls in Pennsylvania

This guide describes the basic elements of land use planning and regulation available to municipal and county governments under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

Local Land Use Planning Controls in Pennsylvania
Environmental Advisory Councils

Any municipality in Pennsylvania may establish an environmental advisory council (EAC) to tap the skills and volunteer energy of its citizens! Consisting of three to seven members appointed by the local government, an EAC can undertake a variety of conservation projects. It can also research issues and advise local government officials to help inform decision-making regarding the environment.

This guide provides a near-comprehensive overview of environmental advisory councils: what they are, what they do, and how to get started with an EAC in your municipality!

Environmental Advisory Councils

PennState Extension

Penn State Extension is a modern educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities. They deliver this information in both face-to-face and online educational experiences.

Their See All Land Use webpage is an online library of webinars and articles all about land use and development in Pennsylvania.

PennState Extension's Land Use Resources

Did You Know…?

Pennsylvania is one of only three states where the people have a constitutional right to a healthy environment? Thanks to Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment of the Pennsylvania Constitution, all state government bodies (including municipalities!) must conserve and maintain public natural resources “for the benefit of all the people.”

Berks Nature’s Community Planning Resources

Business of Nature

Understanding the often-overlooked economic value of natural resources is crucial in informing land use and conservation decisions. Return on Environment (ROE) evaluations – completed by Greener Planning in 2023 – convey the value of nature in economic terms, highlighting the important benefits natural areas provide and costs if lost.

The full Return on Environment report is available online as a story map where users can read through the report’s findings in detail and explore a suite of online land-use planning applications.

Visit the ROE Story Map!
Want to learn more about Berks County’s watersheds and local efforts to protect our water?

Visit Berks Nature’s Inside our Watersheds webpage!

Interested in land preservation?

Visit Berks Nature’s Land Protection webpage to learn more about what we can all do to protect land in Berks County!

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