Learning to promote natural and cultural heritage

Abstract

In the early 1990s, the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission wanted to help four county commissioners apply for state heritage status to preserve the region's immense natural and cultural resources. In 1995, the commission turned to the best person for the job, Bob lmhof. Over the next six years lmhof led the application for the feasibility study in 1995, the proposal in 1997, the management action plan in 1998, the early implementation projects in 2000, and finally the heritage designation in late 2001. The 15-county Lumber Heritage Region became the eleventh of 12 state heritage regions, and the second largest heritage region in the US.