The Nature Conservancy's fight for worldwide conservation and protection of natural resources has brought changes to Mt. Lebanon. But not the environmental kind.

The local branch of the non-profit organization has hired Roy Lenhardt as associate director of philanthropy, and Amanda Cherry as senior donor relations manager in the conservancy's office.

They have an audacious task: raise $5 billion dollars by 2015. The money will be used to preserve 10 percent of each type of habitat: forests, rivers and lakes, deserts and arid lands, grasslands, and oceans. The Nature Conservancy also hopes to double the amount of conservation lands by 2015. It's all part of the Campaign for a Sustainable Planet.

According to Robin Moll, the conservancy's director of philanthropy in Pennsylvania, "both the scope of work and amount of money" makes the campaign the largest conservation campaign in history. So far, approximately $549 million has been raised.

The Laurel Highlands area has been tagged as a particularly important area to conserve. According to the Pennsylvania chapter's Cary Nicholas, The Nature Conservancy uses scientists to identify important habitats all over the world.

"As it turns out some of the most important habitats are here in Pennsylvania. The Laurel Highlands ... are particularly important for protection. It has very diverse kinds of forest," Nicholas said.

Another local area of interest is French Creek, near Meadville. The project to protect and preserve areas around the creek is "near and dear" to Lenhardt's heart.

"It's an important watershed for Pennsylvania," he said, adding that the water also flows to Pittsburgh.

Raising $5 billion and doubling conservation lands is a daunting task. Lenhardt and Cherry had a few suggestions for anyone who'd like to help: volunteer, join the Nature Conservancy, and donate. But the work, as usual, starts small.

"We are a global organization. Everything we do in Western Pennsylvania affects the bigger picture. Things we do locally impact the world," said Cherry.

Contact the local Nature Conservancy office at 412-563-2760 or visit www.nature.org