Important work is being done on the southern side of the Susquehanna’s West Branch.Community leaders and state officials are preserving 250 acres of floodplain wetlands. Biologists and lovers of nature are studying and trying to raise awareness of declines in Pennsylvania’s firefly numbers.

“I find them so magical,” Diana Lehr told the Sun-Gazette for its Thursday edition. “It feels like you are in a fairy tale.”

The Robert Porter Allen Natural Area already is proving to be an asset to those efforts to turn around the decline in firefly populations. It will be a blessing to families looking for scenic walks and to instill the value of Pennsylvania’s forests and wilderness for generations to come.

Our corner of the state is fortunate to have an abundance of nature-based recreation, from Rider Park to Riverfront Park, from the Water Authority’s trails in Mosquito Valley to the Glacier Pools Preserve near Picture Rocks, from The Jersey Shore Rails-to-Trails project to Rose Valley Lake and many more sites.

It’s critical that citizens understand the challenging work that goes into making these outdoor opportunities a reality. That is, the partnerships and coordination of resources required to put all of the pieces together to preserve land make it available for public use.

We are glad to see Robert Porter Allen Natural Area join that list and the local and state officials and community members deserve our thanks and appreciation.

Their efforts and hard work have made Lycoming County better. You could even say their hard work will give many families that appreciate nature more days that end happily ever after.