Land is Pennsylvania's most basic and precious resource. In recognition of the importance of land, we are pleased to celebrate Earth Day 1999 with the theme "Do Your Share: Learn About Land!"

Land supports the playing out of the water cycle, provides a medium through which the sun drives energy via the food chain, and forms an intricate back drop for the exchange of gases and other natural chemicals necessary for life. The 21st Century Environment Commission pointed out that in the three decades since 1960, the population of Pennsylvania's ten largest metropolitan areas grew by 12 percent, but their developed land areas grew by 80 percent. That means that Pennsylvanians are spreading out over the landscape more than we did in 1960. With this pattern of occupying the land comes an increased responsibility to understand the ways that we use land, the environmental impacts that our daily routines place on the environment, and what we can each do to protect the envrionment.

For this reason, I am pleased to provide the enclosed educational materials, "Do Your Share: Learn About Land!"

Tom Ridge