wildlands conservancy

The Wildlands Conservancy awarded two individuals with its Friend of the Lehigh River Award June 20. The award recognizes individuals and institutions instrumental in preserving the Lehigh River.

Jan B. Keim, founding member of Wildlands Conservancy and a retired commissioner for Salisbury Township and Jeff Zehr, director of Lehigh County’s farmland preservation program and the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program were given the awards.

Keim co-founded the Wildlands Conservancy’s original incarnation, the South Mountain Preservation Society, in the 1970s before serving as Salisbury Township’s commissioner for 24 years beginning in 1977. In both her professional and private life, Keim was a fierce advocate for the conservation of the natural world. Keim is now a Wildlands’ ambassador after spending two terms as a member of its board of directors.

Jeff Zehr founded Lehigh County’s farmland preservation program in 1989 and the program has protected roughly 22,000 acres of farmland since its inception.

Zehr has served in many roles across numerous preservation societies within the area, including a presidency of the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Association and currently serves as the vice chairman of Pike Township’s Environmental Advisory Council.

He is the director of the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program, which provides environmentally-passionate people with a skillset to spread their information to others.

Information about Wildlands Conservancy and the programs/events offered can be found at www.wildlandspa.org.