View from the Highlands 2022 v. 1

View

2022 Vol. 1

from the Highlands

Protecting the World’s Oldest Mountains

Photo by Travis Bordley

Conserving Mountains • Farms • Streams • Habitat

Letter from the Executive Director Carl Silverstein

It’s Spring in the mountains, and we are glad to be growing!

372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 828.253.0095 • FAX 828.253.1248 sahc@appalachian.org

Board of Trustees

Matt Moses, President Nancy Edgerton, Vice-President Tom Williams, Secretary Sheryl Aikman, Treasurer Allison Williams, At-Large Sarah Davis Mary Fanslow Janet Garrett Miranda (Randy) Hunter Pam Kelley Hannah Latragna Popsie Lynch Larry (Pender) Pender Rich Preyer Chris Soto Jay Leutze

Erwin, TN Asheville, NC Fairview, NC Asheville, NC Charleston, SC Asheville, NC Kingsport, TN Asheville, NC Flat Rock, NC Kingsport, TN Asheville, NC Fairview, NC Hendersonville, NC Asheville, NC Johnson City, TN

Senior Advisor to the Board

Staff Carl Silverstein Executive Director Kristy Urquhart Associate Director Michelle Pugliese Land Protection Director Jess Laggis Farmland Protection Director Hanni Muerdter Conservation Director Marquette Crockett Roan Stewardship Director Sarah Sheeran Stewardship Director Chris Kaase Stewardship Associate Cheryl Fowler Membership Director Lisa Fancher Finance Compliance Director Angela Shepherd Communications Director Pauline Heyne Director of Philanthropy Chris Link Community Farm Manager Tamarya Sims Community Farm Associate Kirin Battaglia Weddings & Events Coordinator Travis Bordley Roan Ecologist LaKyla Hodges Equity and Education Manager Park Greer South Yellow Mtn Preserve Manager Kyle Shute Land Protection Associate

AmeriCorps Laura Fraser, Youth Education & Community Engagement Logan Dye, Conservation Education & Volunteer Member Stephanie Long., Stewardship & Volunteer Member Sarah Sussman, Stewardship & Volunteer Member

Thanks to generous support from our members, SAHC protected more than 1,600 acres in 2021, and our land protection staff are already hard at work closing new conservation projects this year.

We are so grateful to everyone who helped surpass our year-end annual fundraising goal, ensuring that we have the resources to continue conserving vital land and water resources across the region.

With expanding educational programs, increased inquiries from landowners, and substantial growth of preserved land owned and managed by Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for future generations, this year we have welcomed several new staff members to grow our organizational capacity and meet long-term goals.

In just two years, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy will celebrate our 50th anniversary as a nonprofit organization. Your dedication, financial support, and contributions to science-based land management have led to the protection of more than 80,000 acres across the mountains of TN and NC. Thank you for making all of this work possible. As we begin to look toward this milestone anniversary, I invite you to continue your commitment to protect critical land and water resources, to steward those resources in order to ensure they remain protected for posterity, and to connect people with nature, enjoying the incredible landscape you’ve helped protect. You can find multiple ways to engage in this work — from outings and park openings to volunteer work days and more — on our website at Appalachian.org.

Protect

Steward

Connect

The mission of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland, scenic beauty, and places for all people to enjoy outdoor recreation in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, enduring for future generations. We achieve this through long-term conservation relationships with private landowners and public agencies and owning and managing land. We are committed to creating and supporting equitable, healthy and thriving communities for everyone in our region.

Map: SAHC’s Conservation Focus Areas with Conservation Projects in this Issue Elk River pg. 6-7

Crabtree Bald pg. 8-9

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Welcome! Land Protection Associate Kyle Shute Kyle joined SAHC in March 2022. He graduated from the University of Maine in 2017 with a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and from Clemson University with an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology in 2020. While at Clemson he conducted his Masters research on habitat ecology of threatened bat species, with a focus on private lands in coastal South Carolina. Kyle now works for SAHC’s Land Protection Team coordinating landowner inquiries about private lands conservation.

If you are interested in protecting your land please email Kyle at kyle@appalachian.org. Pronouns (He/Him) Land Protection Updates | 2022 Vol. 2 View from the Highlands | 3

Highlands of Roan Focus Area

Big Horse Creek Mountain Cove with Abundant Streams The main branch of Big Horse Creek, a designated Wild Trout stream, flows through the property, along with multiple streams and springs that flow into Big Horse Creek.

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New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements US Forest Service State (NC or TN) owned Land Other Protected Land

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Big trees, big streams, big open field — everything about Big Horse Creek is a big deal! This stunning 134-acre mountain cove harbors the cool cascades of a trout stream and plentiful places for birds and wildlife to thrive. Nestled amongst national forest land and SAHC conservation easements, the property had once been worked as a small farm and remained in the same family from the 1940s until it was recently listed on the open real estate market. Thanks to generous supporters, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchased the tract to permanently preserve the pristine water and habitat resources, and views from the Appalachian Trail.

We look forward to sharing the property as part of our outings and education programs in the future.

Tucked away on the southeast slopes of the Roan Massif, SAHC’s new Big Horse Creek Preserve borders the Pisgah National Forest.

The acquisition preserves habitat adjoining the national forest and mountain stream headwaters that support wild trout. | Land Protection Updates

“Over a half mile of Horse Creek flows along the edge of the property,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “Its rushing wild trout waters, and those of its tributary Camp Branch, are now protected forever.

These waters originate on the eastern slopes of Big Yellow

Water cascades down a rock waterfall on the property.

Mountain and Little Hump Mountain. The Big Horse Creek property joins an extensive network of protected land in the Roan Highlands, with its high elevation 4,100foot ridgeline lying in the shadow of the Appalachian Trail.”

If you’ve ever hiked along the AT at Little Hump Mountain, you’ve probably looked down on this property.

The Big Horse Creek Preserve is located within the Audubon Society’s Roan Mountain Important Bird Area. A former tree farm area and openings along the forest edge create early successional habitat that supports neo-tropical migratory songbirds, along with a variety of other wildlife that depend on young forests..

Securing this large-acreage tract with ridgelines, varied topography, and thriving habitat in an important network of conserved land helps preserve critical corridors for wildlife movement in the region.

SAHC is excited to be working with our new neighbors on Big Horse Creek to conduct a bioblitz to inventory the species onsite, and we will continue to manage the property to protect the natural resources in perpetuity.

Thank you for continuing to help add to the permanently protected landscape in the Highlands of Roan!

The mixture of multiple springs and streams, forested mountainside, and sunny openings creates a variety of habitat for plants and wildlife to thrive.

Land Protection Updates | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 5

Highlands of Roan Focus Area

Elk River and

Little Horse Creek

These two tracts contain thousands of feet of flowing water of the Elk River (left) and Little Horse Creek (right)

Elk River

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We are grateful for the foresight of conservationminded individuals, the generosity of our members and philanthropic leaders, and the dedication of a landowner to continue his family legacy, which enabled SAHC to acquire 128 more acres in Avery County in the Highlands of Roan. These two tracts — 87 acres on Elk River and 46 acres on Little Horse Creek — contain important water resources and habitat for wildlife.

Little Horse Creek

New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements US Forest Service State (NC or TN) owned Land Other Protected Land

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Less than two miles upstream from the rushing torrent of Elk River Falls, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s new 87-acre preserve on the Elk River harbors rich plant and animal biodiversity.

“Elk River Falls, also known as Big Falls, is a spectacular 50 ft. high waterfall in Pisgah National Forest that draws visitors for its dramatic cascade and clear water,” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “In addition to preserving the rich biodiversity of this beautiful forested tract, this project was an exciting opportunity to protect the water that feeds Elk Falls.”

Almost a half mile of the Elk River flows along the edge of the preserve, and the tract contains | Land Protection Updates

the point at which Cranberry Creek flows into the Elk River.

Both watercourses are classified as Trout Waters by the NC Division of Water Resources “This property on the Elk River is an excellent example of an undisturbed high elevation Southern Appalachian riparian forest,” says Stewart Skeate, professor emeritus of LeesMcrae College, who once used a portion of Don Zobel’s land as an outdoor classroom. “In addition to riparian species such as Eastern Sycamore, Ironwood, and Eastern Hemlock, the property is a mix of northern hardwood and mixed oak forest communities. At present, 28 species of trees have been identified on the property, making it an especially diverse community. The property has a mosaic of plant communities

Conservation Legacy: Bruce and Barbara Zobel Landowner Don Zobel worked with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy to permanently protect the land at Elk River and Little Horse Creek as a memorial and tribute to his parents, Bruce and Barbara Zobel.

Bruce John Zobel (1920-2011) served as the E.F. Conger Distinguished Professor of Forestry at North Carolina State University and was a pioneer in the field of forest genetics.

Downstream of the 87-acre property that SAHC acquired on Elk River, the river water plunges 50 ft. over a rock cliff into a deep pool. SAHC Trustee Larry Pender visited the falls during an exploration of the Roan Highlands.

where some areas of the forest have a dense understory of Rosebay Rhododendron, while other areas have an open understory. These open understory areas have a rich, diverse layer of herbaceous plants that produce a spectacular flowering display in the spring months. There are also a number of wet, seep areas that are especially interesting botanically as well as for the presence of salamanders. The high plant diversity and vegetation stratification has also resulted in a high diversity of breeding birds, including many species of neo-tropical migrants such as Black-throated Blue Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Hooded Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, Rosebreasted Grosbeaks, and Scarlet Tanagers.”

“As there has been a high degree of development along the Elk River in Avery County, the amount of undisturbed riparian forest has decreased dramatically,” continues Skeate.

“Thus, it is vital that we protect

the remaining intact forest tracts to maintain the ecological health of the Elk River and its bordering forests.”

Little Horse Creek Landowner Don Zobel donated the 46-acre tract at Little Horse Creek to SAHC. It is loosely surrounded by national forest land and other SAHC conservation easements and preserves, including the 151acre Belview Mountain tract that his sisters Julie Zobel and Kathy Ball sold to SAHC last year. The property contains over 600 ft. of Little Horse Creek, a tributary of the North Toe River classified as Wild Trout Waters by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Bruce grew up on a farm along the central coast of California. During high school, he met Barbara Lemon (1921-2015), and they were married in 1941.

Both attended University of California at Berkeley.

Bruce graduated with a degree in Forestry in 1943 and entered the US Marine Corps in 1944.

While stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, with the family, Bruce was appointed Forestry Officer. He learned about southern forestry, an experience that eventually set the course of his career.

After discharge from the military, Bruce returned to Berkeley for Masters and PhD degrees in Forestry, specializing in the new field of forest genetics. In 1957, he joined NC State University and led the cooperative research program with the forestry industry, aimed at developing trees for southern forests that would grow faster and produce wood of higher quality than available at the time. He mentored many graduate students from all over the world and taught a class about forest genetics.

In 1979, Bruce retired as director of the research cooperative, but continued to teach part-time for about 25 years. He also brought his expertise to many parts of the world as a consultant. Barbara often joined in his worldwide travels, assisting in his work in forest genetics. During 1984-1998 Bruce wrote 6 books about forest genetics and international forestry. He received many honors from his profession, university, and foreign institutions.

Thank you to the landowner and our very generous conservation supporters for adding these two preserves Bruce and Barbara had purchased land in the in the Highlands of Roan mountains of Avery Co. NC, and Bruce loved to to the land that Southern work improving his forests, planning the house that Appalachian Highlands was built for the family, and fishing the Elk River.

Conservancy has permanently Their children — Don, Kathy, Lois, and Julie — carry protected in this ecologically forward their legacy of forestry and conservation. significant region!

Land Protection Updates | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 7

French Broad River Valley Focus Ar

We are grateful to Ann and John Geers for donating a conservation easement on 120 acres of their property on the northwestern flank of Crabtree Bald — including high quality open spaces and forested natural communities. And we thank all our generous conservation donors and to the Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of WNC for supporting this project.

Crabtree Bald

Donated Conservation Easement This idyllic cove on the flank of Crabtree Bald in Haywood County is now permanently protected. Photo by Michael Fredericks, Carolinas Nature Photographers Association (CNPA).

The donated conservation easement is located within a growing network of land protected by SAHC in Haywood and western Buncombe County. Preserving habitat connections along these mountain ridges is important to provide corridors for wildlife to move and resilience to climate change.

The property encompasses a scenic cove with numerous types of hardwood trees and rocky outcrops on the western slope of Crabtree Bald massif. It is visible from the Appalachian Medley Scenic Byway (NC-209).

Crabtree Bald 120 Acres

New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements Other Protected Land 8 | View from the Highlands 2022 Vol. 1

Landowners Ann and John Geers loved nature and wanted to preserve the landscape, so they volunteered to donate a conservation easement to permanently protect their land.

“It is unique when landowners want to fully donate a conservation easement in an area of this significance,” says Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter. “This donation helps leverage our resources. Putting our time and energy into full donations in priority areas makes for good projects and organization effectiveness.”

The Pigeon River Fund of The Community Foundation of | Land Protection Updates

WNC awarded a grant to pay for conservation easement survey.

Landowner Perspective — John and Ann Geers We both grew up as “suburbia kids” but took any opportunity available to enjoy nature by backpacking, camping, and canoeing with our two boys. We had demanding jobs — John as a restaurateur/ commercial real estate broker and Ann as a university professor — but we dreamed of someday leaving the city behind and living on our own slice of nature. When our kids were close to college age, we began to explore the nuts and bolt of fulfilling this dream. The first property we saw was a beautiful self-contained cove nestled below the Rocky Knob of Crabtree Bald, with a view of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountains National Park. We fell in love with it and within a few days signed a purchase agreement. For

John and Ann Geers (center) with their sons.

Photo by Phil and Kristen Photography.

the next five years we visited the cove whenever the opportunity arose, all the while designing our dream house and planning to escape the city. In 2000 our boys were on their own and gave us their blessing to move to the country. Over the next 20 years we became home to horses, rescued dogs/cats and for a short time cattle. John has spent most of his time maintaining the property to the standards in our stewardship/forestry plan. We love hiking and exploring the abundance of flora and fauna and wildlife around us.

We have enjoyed salamanders and other amphibians in our creek and pond as well as many varieties of woodpeckers, tanagers, finches, thrush, warblers, and birds of prey. We also became home to many deer, fox, woodchucks, raccoons, opossums, and yes, skunks and several varieties of snakes. We became beekeepers with the help of the Bee Club at the Haywood County Agricultural Center.

Then, we began to wonder what would happen to this natural paradise when we were no longer here to protect it.

We developed a stewardship forest management plan with Fred Foster and a second and now a third plan with EcoForesters and explored the possibility of conserving our forest for future generations.

We have been aware of climate change for many years, but the urgency of this problem and its direct relevance to the future ahead for our kids, grandkids and

Forested slopes and rocky outcrops. Photo by Michael Fredericks, CNPA

the world becomes more apparent every year. We have watched development and clear cutting occurring all around us over the past 20 years and realize it will likely continue at an ever-accelerating pace.

While we understand the appeal of this beautiful location as a place to live and vacation, we see firsthand that the wildlife is losing habitat and our atmosphere is suffering from loss of old growth forests.

We had an opportunity to make a small contribution to slowing this demise for generations to come.

Our land includes a large, long level of meadows and undisturbed forests which can be seen from Main Street of Waynesville, Lake Junaluska and various other parts of Haywood County.

These distant vistas of the surrounding mountains are so important to maintain for our mountain communities.

The program offered by Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy appealed to us as a vehicle to protect the forest we had come to love and respect.

The conservancy staff members were particularly helpful in explaining how we could maintain ownership of the property and pass it on to our heirs and beyond, while protecting the land from future development.

They explained their role in extensively

documenting the current condition of the property and conducting annual followup visits to ensure that this condition is maintained and allowed to improve through good forest management. We felt confident that after we are no longer here, we leave a legacy that is protected for the foreseeable future.

We selected the option to carve out three acres from the conservation easement to reserve for residential purposes. While both of our boys are currently raising families in urban areas, we see their love of this land. We hope they will have the opportunity to spend more time here as their lives permit. We take comfort and pride in the notion that our grandchildren, their children and our neighbors will have the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty and peace of this property for recreation and refuge.

Open areas and forest create a mix of habitat.

Photo by Michael Fredericks, CNPA

Land Protection Updates | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 9

Smoky Mountains Focus Area

Stevens Creek Protecting the edge of the National Park The newly acquired Preston tract stretches along the foreground ridge, with the Asbury trail within Great Smoky Mountains National Park running alongside and to the left of the ridge. View of the Smokies in the background. Photo by Stephanie Long.

Thanks to generous supporters and conservation-minded landowners, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has purchased 13 more acres adjoining Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Acquisition of the property in the Stevens Creek area will permanently protect forested habitat and scenic views along this edge of the national park. A portion of the Asbury Trail runs along the tract.

Hand-lettered sign for the Asbury Trail, a meandering and sometimes rugged route with yellow blaze.

The trail is named for Methodist bishop and “circuit rider” Francis Asbury, who traveled the area in the late 1700-1800s.

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Landowner Jason Preston reached out to SAHC about selling the tract after diligently researching the organization and being inspired by SAHC’s reputation and conservation ethic. In completing the land protection project as a “bargain sale,” Preston donated a significant portion of the property value. He says that permanent protection of the land was a major influence in his decision to sell to SAHC. He felt the land was entrusted to him, and he wanted to ensure that it | Land Protection Updates

would remain in its natural state.

“I grew up outside Orlando in Florida, and while it seemed all of the world came there for vacation, our family would vacation in the southern Appalachian mountains every year,” recalls Preston. “From a young age, I always loved the Appalachians – just being there and spending time every summer, roaming the mountains.

My grandmother lived in the area, and I loved exploring the creek on her property. I have family roots in East TN. After

college, I enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail, up to the Virginia highlands. I’ve just always loved that region and the mystique of the old mountains.”

When my grandmother passed away, we learned that she’d owned this tract on the edge of the national park, which she willed to me,” says Preston. “Right out of the gate, developers reached out about the property and wanted to acquire it. That just didn’t sit right with me. I visited several times and enjoyed hiking and spending time on the property. I loved the idea of the land being protected forever, maybe part of public lands in the future. I originally reached out to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see if they would want to acquire the property, since it adjoins the national park, but that route didn’t seem feasible for me. Then, I started seeing SAHC’s signs [conservation boundary marking signs on nearby protected property] in the area, and dug in to do some research about the organization. Everything I found and everyone I talked with said 100% that SAHC was an organization that could be

trusted and was conservationminded. This aligned with my goals of wanting to forever protect those unbroken vistas of the Great Smoky Mountains. Experiencing that view does something for your soul, and I wanted to make sure that it would be preserved, unspoiled by human intervention. Conservation Director Hanni Muerdter was so nice in working through the process from start to finish and answering all my questions.”

Stevens Creek 13 Acres Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Preston says that it was still difficult to part with the property, but he knows he did the right thing.

“I had some angst about letting it go,” he admits, “but as we signed at the closing, I just had this warm feeling, knowing that this is something future generations will enjoy and benefit from. I’m super excited that the land will be protected for generations that follow after us. We know we did the right thing, and that’s a good feeling.

At the end of the day, the idea of seeing the land protected for the future has come to fruition.

That’s what we wanted to do, and we’re really pleased with that choice.”

A portion of the Asbury Trail (right) runs right along the edge of SAHC’s new Stevens Creek Preserve (left).

New Conservation Property Other SAHC Preserves / Easements U.S. National Park Land

SAHC’s acquisition of this property at Stevens Creek permanently preserves forest habitat bordering the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Land Protection Updates | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 11

Enjoy these views? Join us for a farm workshop or purchase a CSA from farmers at the SAHC Community Farm! On a beautiful day, the Newfound Mountains preside over the horizon, with herbs and flowers blanketing the growing beds on the farm.

SAHC Community Farm

Conservation • Education • Celebration

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Farm Incubator Program is an innovative program that allows farmers to access land at an affordable rate, provides mentorship and professional networking and other support for entrepreneurial or new agricultural businesses. The Farm Incubator Program is located at SAHC’s Community Farm in Alexander, NC, a 140-acre property that serves as a synergistic model for conservation, environmental stewardship and productive farming working together. Contact us for more info about the programs, event space, or opportunities to visit the farm (by appointment).

This spring, two of the farm operations in our Farm Incubator Program — Lunar Whale Herbs and Blazing Star Flowers — offer a variety of options to experience and benefit from fresh quality herbs, herbal medicines, and beautiful flowers.

Lunar Whale Herbs Lunar Whale Herbs is a small scale

Farm fresh herbs from Lunar Whale Herbs

medicinal and culinary herb farm that strives to bring high quality herbs to our community. This year they are offering fresh herb CSAs and Apothecary Box subscriptions.

through small batch, lovingly handcrafted herbal products from our farm. Once a month (9 boxes, April to December) you will receive a box of small batch herbal products.

The fresh herb CSA allows members to have access to high quality herbs and have hands-on experience in creating their own herbal medicines.

Members receive 10 shares with 5 generous bundles of fresh leaf, flower, or roots depending on what’s in season along with 3 “how-to” herbal medicine making videos, a PDF with basic medicine making techniques, and an educational email with every share on the properties of each herb and recipes for cooking and medicine making.

Want to share the benefits of natural medicine for good health?

You can donate to match a Lunar Whale Herbs Fresh Herb CSA or Apothecary Box to help support herbal education and access to fresh herbs and herbal medicine for community partners in Asheville.

The apothecary box is a monthly subscription box meant to connect you with the rhythms of the season

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| SAHC Community Farm

More info and sign-ups at lunarwhaleherbs.com.

Blazing Star Flowers Blazing Star Flowers is excited to launch its second season at the SAHC Community Farm after a bountiful and successful start last year.

garden! Purchase a one-time seedling CSA share to grow your own cutting garden, or find their plant starts and spring cut flowers at the East Asheville Tailgate Market (Fridays 3-6) starting April 1st, the French Broad River Garden Club Plant Sale (April 23), or The NC Arboretum Plant Sale (May 28th).

Suzanne Nolter, Blazing Star Flowers

Blazing Star Flowers offers CSA shares of sustainably grown flowers in pre-made bouquets or buckets of loose stems. Brighten up your home or workspace with a gorgeous, fresh seasonal bouquet of sustainably grown flowers! Sign up for a single month or the full season, June through September.

NEW this year, seedling shares to start your own cut flower

“We love hosting workshops to share our passion for flowers and will be offering more in 2022,” says Suzanne Nolter, owner of Blazing Star Flowers. They will continue to offer floral designs for weddings and private events, including some at the event space on the SAHC Community Farm.

For more info or to purchase flowers, visit blazingstarflowers.com.

Eggs Anyone?

Free Range, Pasture-raised Eggs SAHC Community Farm now offers straightfrom-the-farm eggs through Patchwork Alliance, a multi-producer community supported agriculture cooperative.

Currently you can place orders for pickup or delivery in the Asheville area. Visit PatchworkAlliance.com and look for egg products from SAHC Community Farm.

Our chickens are Rhode Island Reds, White Leghorns, Red Shoulder Yokohamas, Easter Eggers, and Speckled Sussexs that are fed organic, soy-free feed and are rotationally grazed on pastures free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.

Lunch & Learn: Building Local Food Systems Wednesday, May 11 at 12 pm (Virtual Program)

Every day, the food we eat connects us to a vast web of farmers, traders, food manufacturers, retailers and many other people involved. Feeding our community, providing a livelihood for farmers, and protecting the environment – must be tackled together. So, how do we build sustainable, local food systems that benefit farmers, consumers and the land?

Join us to learn how SAHC farmland programs are helping to build local food systems through opportunities to access farmland and hear more about the history of how our farmland work started and where we are headed. Chris Link, SAHC Community Farm Manager, will speak on the complexities of small scale agribusinesses and why it’s more important than ever to support our local farmers. Register online at Appalachian.org

Stay Up-To-Date on Farm News If you missed our last Virtual Lunch and Learn, be sure to find Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy at YouTube and check out the Pollinator 101 video with Community Farm Associate Tamarya Sims! We are planning a robust schedule of farm workshops this year. Sign up for our monthly e-News for updates, and follow the farm at @SAHCCommunityFarm on Facebook and @sahccommunityfarm on Instagram for more up-to-date info.

Our Community Farm work is funded in part by grants from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, and a cost-share grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

SAHC Community Farm | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 13

Welcome: LaKyla Hodges

SAHC Equity and Education Manager LaKyla has been passionate about the outdoors for as long as she can remember. She spent much of her childhood exploring the outdoors as much as possible. As she grew older, she noticed that she rarely saw anyone who looked like her in green spaces. There was little to no diversity in age, race, social class, or ability.

This led her to pursue more structured environmental experiences. During her time working at sites like Smithsonian’s National Zoo, the WNC Nature Center, and Smithgall Woods State Park, she found that this diversity issue was apparent on all levels in the environmental field — whether in the classroom, work spaces, or parks. These experiences led her to consider how she could bring environmental education and environmental access to more diverse demographics. Upon moving to Asheville, LaKyla was able to begin working at places such as the Burton Street and Umoja Community Centers, primarily working with People of Color. She began to incorporate nature connection aspects into her work with youth such as nature journaling, outdoor meditation, and garden walks.

She was able to further develop environmental education curriculum through her internship in 2021 with Youth Transformed for Life and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and her work with Bountiful Cities’ FEAST program. LaKyla hopes to continue this development of inclusive environmental education, networking, and community in her career moving forward.

Welcome, New Roan Stewardship Team Members!

Park Greer, South Yellow Mountain Preserve Manager Park was introduced to the Appalachian Mountains at a young age when his father and siblings would backpack extensively along the Roan Highlands.

Inspired by the local biodiversity and history, Park soon embarked on a career in conservation. With a BS in Recreation Administration/Natural Resources Management from Eastern Kentucky University, Park went on to hone his stewardship skills working as a park ranger for Tennessee State Parks and later for an environmental land survey company. Park joined SAHC in 2022 as the Manager for the future South Yellow Mountain Preserve where he will work alongside researchers, SAHC staff, community members, and volunteers to foster a shining example of successful conservation work.

Thomas Hatling, Roan Naturalist Thomas Hatling was raised in Kernersville, NC and spent most summers at camp near Hendersonville or with family near Boone. He developed a love for the outdoors kayaking, hiking, and fishing throughout the Appalachians. Thomas then went to school at the University of the South: Sewanee in Tennessee where he received a BS in Forestry. While in school Thomas worked for SAHC as a forestry intern one summer inventorying white ash trees. From there Thomas worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and the US Forest Service in California where he honed his forestry and ecological skills as well as explored the West coast. As the Roan Naturalist, Thomas is excited to both share his knowledge and passion for the Roan Highlands, as well as practice and follow SAHC’s guidelines on stewardship and conservation. This seasonal position is co-sponsored by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

14 | View from the Highlands 2022 Vol. 1 | Conservation in Action

Volunteer Work Day: Garlic Mustard Pull in the Roan Friday, April 29 — Roan Mountain State Park, TN

SAHC is partnering with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Roan Mountain State Park, and the Cherokee National Forest to remove invasive garlic mustard from the park and heavily trafficked highways around Carver’s Gap and SAHC conservation properties in the Highlands of Roan. Plucking out the pesky invaders when they’re young and tender isn’t hard work, but it does take a lot of hands! Meet at the Conference Center parking lot – Roan Mountain State Park in Roan Mountain, TN. Start time 9:30. Volunteers will be briefed, divided into groups, and dispersed across the Park and along public roadsides to pull garlic mustard.

There will need to be some shuttling and driving of personal vehicles to make this happen.

Volunteers will work until 1 pm, when we will regroup at the conference center for lunch and official “weigh in.”

More details and volunteer sign-up info at Appalachian.org

Save the Date: Grassy Balds Management July 15-16 Round Bald, July 18-22 Engine Gap, July 23-24 Grassy Ridge Visit Appalachian.org for updates.

Ma r k Yo u r Cal en dar!

Upcoming Events - Visit Appalachian.org for more information

April 23 — Chestnut Mountain Nature Park opening April 23 — Pints with a Purpose at Highland Brewing Company April 23-24 — Nolifest at USA Raft April 29 — Volunteer Work Day – Roan Garlic Mustard Pull May 11 — Virtual Lunch and Learn: Building Local Food Systems (p.13) June 4 — Land Trust Day and Jus’ Running’s Flying Squirrel 10 Miler June 18 — June Jamboree June 23 — Virtual Lunch and Learn: State of SAHC (Annual Member Update) July 15-16 — Round Bald (burn area) Hand Mowing (Grassy Balds Management) July 18-22 — Engine Gap (Grassy Balds Management) July 23-24 — Grassy Ridge Mow-Off (Grassy Balds Management) Sign up for our e-Newsletter at Appalachian.org, for updates about these events and more!

Conservation In Action | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 15

Tha n k Yo u Co r po ra te Pa rtners!

Corporate Partners

Mt. Mitchell: $25,000+ Wicked Weed Brewing Witherspoon, Platt & Associates Waterrock Knob: $15,000+ Mast General Store Salesforce Roan Mountain: $10,000+ Appalachian Realty Associates Highland Brewing Company Cold Mountain: $5,000+ Bonesteel Films Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo The Garden Club of America Joel Adams and Associates, Inc. Parsec Financial Management Big Yellow: $2,500+ Eagles Nest Outfitters (ENO) Kee Mapping and Surveying Network Computer Solutions USA Raft Max Patch: $1,000+ Adams J. Wood Apple Inc. Asheville Hiking Tours BorgWarner Foundation Brunk Auctions Duke Energy Foundation Equinox Environmental Green River Preserve HandUp Gloves Headwater Environmental Mosaic Realty Movement Mortgage REI Co-Op Roberts & Stevens, Attorneys at Law Samsel Architects Second Gear Shoji Spa & Lodge Starks Financial Group Steelcase Foundation Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton Webb Investment Services, Inc. Wildwood Consulting, LLC

Hand Up Gloves Our Corporate Partner members are business supporters who contribute to SAHC at an annual level of $1,000 or more.

We are so grateful that these businesses choose to give back to our communities by supporting land and water conservation in the mountains of NC and TN. One of those generous partners is Handup, a gloves and gear company based in Chattanooga, TN.

The white handup logo is directly underneath the large Black handup logo at the top.

Get your hands in some stylish topo-map design Appalachia gloves — and make an impact on conservation! A collaboration between Wicked Weed Brewing, HandUp Gloves, and SAHC, a portion of sales from these gloves benefit conservation efforts.

Order online under the “Gloves that Give” collection

“In 2021 we kicked off at Handupgloves.com. our “Gloves that Give” program in an effort to partner with different organizations that we felt were doing good things in the world,” they said. “We wanted a way to highlight and give funds back to these organizations to ensure they could continue with their missions. Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy aligned with our mission perfectly and, given that they manage the land and trails close to our home, it was easy to partner with them to create a glove with Wicked Weed Brewing that benefited their efforts. Both the Wicked Weed Appalachia Beer and our collaborative “Glove that Gives” contribute a portion of proceeds back to SAHC.” About HandUp Gloves: “Handup Gloves have been best for grabbin’ bars and beers since 2014.

What began as bold, minimalist cycling gloves for cyclists has become much more. We’ve expanded into four separate glove weights to get you through the seasons, introduced a line of golf gloves in our other favorite pastime, and made apparel affordable for casual wearing, cycling, golfing, or just being active outside. As a company, we land somewhere between fast and fun.”

For more info, visit Handupgloves.com

For information about becoming a Corporate Partner or participating in our Real Estate Partner Program, contact Cheryl Fowler at cheryl@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 209.

16 | View from the Highlands 2022 Vol. 1 | Corporate Partners

Memb ers’ Corn er

Tributes — as of April 4, 2022

Tributes are gifts made to SAHC that celebrate a person, achievement, or special occasion.

In honor of Malcolm Kendall In honor of Jasper and Ellis Tait In honor of Bettye Boone Jeanne and Charles Cummings Megan Sutton and Andy Tait and Saylor Fox Anonymous In honor of Jay Leutze In honor of Laurie Tebbenkamp Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton Alicia Shumate In honor of Tom and Jo Brock Elizabeth, Jamie and Mary Cate Kiser In honor of Emily and Erik Tolsma Art and Charlotte Ellis C.D. and Sally Smith Rebecca Kuhn In honor of Bruce Byers Lisa and Don Barger Scott and Meryl Lawrence In honor of Tom and Vivian Todd In honor of William Lord Art and Charlotte Ellis In honor of Chuck and Lisa Carver Bill Lord and Sue Guerrant Joseph and Pam Morris In honor of John and Bobbie Toole In honor of Bill and Denise MacCurdy Waid and Babbie Shelton In honor of Louise Carver Joe MacCurdy Mary Fanslow In honor of Harrison and Pat Turner Art and Charlotte Ellis In honor of Elizabeth Cheesborough In honor of Jason Mann Judith Mann Jeanne and Charles Cummings In honor of Frony Ward In honor of Bill and Dee Dee Maxwell and Allan Morgan In honor of “Dad” Fielding and Julia Lewis Sylvia Dry Robert Browning In honor of “Mom and Dad” In honor of Rebecca Warner In honor of Roy Davis Megan Riley Sandra Rogers Alicia Shumate In honor of Nancy Douglas Alicia Shumate In honor of Nancy Edgerton Gail and Ron Manheimer In honor of Art and Charlotte Ellis Tom and Jo Brock In honor of Bob and Jan Hardy Fanslow Mary Fanslow In honor of Bob Gault Ruth G. Wells In honor of Sue Guerrant Benjamin Lord In honor of John and Marjorie Hickman Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Imes

In honor of Judy Murray and Tom Gatti Art and Charlotte Ellis

In honor of Taylor “Poppy” Pickard Amy Pickard In honor of Dorothy Pruett Emily Dial In honor of Steve and Ryland Quinn Art and Charlotte Ellis In honor of “Robert” Corey Meredith In honor of Bill Ryan Lee Ryan and Nancy Aalberg In honor of Zane and Rebecca Scott Art and Charlotte Ellis

In honor of Kathy and Bob Hiller Kim Jones

In honor of Carl Silverstein and Bonnie Sheldon Jeanne Conerly

In honor of Alan and Chrissy Householder Glenda & Darrell Eastridge Gary Householder

In honor of Dr. and Mrs. R.W. Shelton Roberta and John Toole In honor of Mark Shipley Heather Shipley

In honor of Christina and Wayne Jordan Holly Jordan

In honor of Kathy and John Singleton Eleanor Lamb

In honor of Bruce and Charis Kabat Marge Cavanaugh

In honor of Sheri Watts Morrisa Nagel In honor of Dave Werle Starks Financial Group In honor of Wayne Wood and Sharon Helton Art and Charlotte Ellis In honor of Paul Woody Andrew Churchill In honor of Steve Woody T. Michael Knies In honor of Lin Zang Cynthia Shilkret

In honor of David Smith Lee Ann Smith

Members’ Corner | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 17

Mem b e rs ’ Co r n e r Memorial Contributions as of April 4, 2022

In memory of Bill Lowndes Carol T. Coffey Horack, Talley, Pharr and Lowndes, PA Nancy and Ron Edgerton Cheryl Fowler Robert and Trudi Glenn Paige Hansen Marlene and Jay Jacoby Jane Jones Patricia Krebs Beth and Witt Langstaff, Jr. Jay Leutze Kathleen E Leutze Bill and Dee Dee Maxwell Andrew Stevenson and Kristy Urquhart In memory of Kathleen Leutze Jennifer Brown Ron and Nancy Edgerton Mary Fanslow Cheryl Fowler John Hansen Pauline and Lee Heyne Jane and Will Morgan John Poteat Andrew Stevenson and Kristy Urquhart Sharon Wheeler

In Memoriam - Bill Lowndes

Born in 1932 and raised in Durham, NC, Bill touched the lives of many and will be remembered for the charm, kindness, and wisdom that drew others to him. Bill and his wife Kim built a home on Yellow Mountain in the Highlands of Roan in 1972. It was there that they spent cherished time with family and friends, from sunny summer picnics on “The Bald” to warm winter fires under towering Christmas trees. He became a leader in the small mountain community and served on the board of trustees for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for 16 years.

“Bill was part of the origin story of SAHC,” remembers Senior Advisor to the Board Jay Leutze. “I recall that Bill and SAHC founder Stan Murray used to sit around my parents’ and the Lowndes’ living rooms and talk about protecting the balds.” Bill and Kim Lowndes purchased the 377-acre Houston Ridge tract in the Roan Highlands in order to protect it. SAHC purchased the tract from the Lowndes in 1990 and transferred it to the U.S. Forest Service in 1993. Hikers along the Appalachian Trail may have seen the metal plaque memorializing Stan Murray (1923-1990) on Houston Ridge.

“Bill was an advocate for the professional development of the organization and proud of his long-term leadership of SAHC,” says Associate Director Kristy Urquhart.

“We were so fortunate to have known him as a champion of conservation.

He will be dearly missed.”

In Memoriam - Kathleen Leutze Kathleen (Kathy) Erskine Leutze (1936-2022) passed away in March, surrounded by her adoring family. She nurtured generations of dedicated conservationists – including SAHC’s Senior Advisor to the Board Jay Leutze and Roan Ecologist Travis Bordley – and has left an indelible mark on the protected landscape of NC and TN. Raised in sunny Florida, her childhood summers were spent with cousins in Mississippi, at Camp Greystone, and at her family’s cottage in Laurel Park, NC. Later summers and Kathy Leutze with son Jamie on Yellow Mountain holidays were spent on Big Yellow Mountain in Avery County. She especially enjoyed exploring the Roan Highlands and filling her house with wildflowers and pottery from the Penland School. She was disdainful of conventions she considered outdated and encouraged her children and grandchildren to choose their own paths.

Kathy attended Florida State University and then graduate school at the University of Miami where she met her future husband James Richard Leutze (Jim). They made several happy homes over the course of their marriage and raised three children. For many years she worked in the UNC School of Social and Administrative Medicine.

“Kathy was my very best friend — she was such a dear friend,” remembers Kim Lowndes. “We knew each other for 60 years. Friends since our kids were small, we traveled together and built homes at Yellow Mountain together. It was such a long, loving, caring friendship.”

18 | View from the Highlands 2022 Vol. 1 | Members’ Corner

Memb ers’ Corn er In Memoriam - Miles Hayes Miles Hayes (1934-2022) was retired Professor of Geology (1972-1984) and Department Chair (1973-1977) at the University of South Carolina and founder, president, and chairman of Research Planning, Inc. (1977-2020) based in Columbia, SC. He is survived by his devoted wife of 46 years, Jacqui Michel. In the second half of his career, Miles’ private company, RPI, focused on applied research related to the search for oil, oil spill science, spatial analysis, and coastal restoration. The quality of RPI’s work continues under Jacqui’s leadership since 2000.

Miles is known worldwide as the “Father of Coastal Geomorphology.”

Miles wrote many scientific articles, but he was most proud of two memoirs: Black Tides (1999), about being an oil spill scientist working on many large spills; and Coastal Heroes (2011), a tribute to the work that he and his students and associates conducted.

Miles and Jacqui generously conserved their magnificent 325-acre high elevation property within SAHC’s flagship Highlands of Roan focus area in 2014 and have been active and committed partners in our efforts to conserve and steward that significant landscape.

Memorials

— as of April 4, 2022 Memorial contributions to SAHC honor the memory of special individuals. A memorial gift is a gift of flowers in perpetuity.

You can remember your loved one by making a gift to SAHC to help permanently protect the places they loved.

In memory of Isbell Behrer Eliza Nevin In memory of Don Brewer Lawrence Brewer In memory of Jim Crews Mary Crews In memory of Jeff Eckert Marion and Randall Finken In memory of John and Mimi Falkinburg Anne Newman In memory of Hank Gamble Juan Ascoli In memory of Joanna Griffith Tom and Sara Masters In memory of William Hamilton Field Coxe and Florence Henry Sarah and Matt Fraser John E Hansen Anne Mischuck Paula O’Hara and Joe Luna Margot Wallston

In memory of Miles O. Hayes Kenneth Finkelstein Ian Fischer Yvonne Hammes Mya Hayes Carl H. Hobbs III Debra Payton Ann Hayward Walker Scott Zengel In memory of Kay Hultquist Kathy and Jim Overholser and family In memory of Elizabeth Hutchinson Dick and Kirkie Gibson Valley of the Roan Property Owners Association In memory of John B. Lowndes Sally Long In memory of Emma Lou Shipley Marquis Jodi and Darryl Jones In memory of Don McLeod

Emily W. Wood In memory of Lee and Martha Newman Anne Newman In memory of Ruby Templeton Novak Carolyn Novak and Don Johnson In memory of Kenneth Oakley, DDS Dick and Kirkie Gibson In memory of J.M. and Enid Silverstein Lynn Silverstein In memory of Lillian Webster Smathers Juliellen E. Sarver In memory of Dan Stillwell Anne Becker In memory of Wilson W. Wilde Jim W. Wilde In memory of Joan Webster Worth Juliellen E. Sarver

YOUR gift matters! | 2022 Vol. 1 View from the Highlands | 19

Donor Perspective: Dennis and Carol Oakley “We like Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s focus on the area surrounding the Tennessee/NC border, the place we live. We especially like two things SAHC does. The first is protecting natural habitats — either by outright purchase of the land or buying an easement. Whether SAHC continues to own and manage the land or sells it to a government agency like the U.S. Forest Service, this work is important because it protects land that would otherwise be developed. The second thing we like is the work helping farmers keep their land. Farming is not an easy profession, and it continues to be a financially challenging vocation. SAHC’s work helps keep the smaller family farms by improving the economics which allows the farmers continue to do what they enjoy.

We don’t see anyone else with the same mission as SAHC. There are other conservancy groups we support, but their focus is much broader and have a larger geographic reach. With SAHC we can see the impact of its work since we live here. And what we’ve seen is good!

We hope SAHC continues to do what it does, with a focus on this geographic area. Western NC and eastern TN are important ecological areas and need all the help they can get.”

Dennis and Carol Oakley have been members since 2017, and recently included SAHC in their estate planning. In addition to their generous financial support and outstanding commitment to conservation, Dennis contributes his time and expertise in photographing conservation properties, to help better communicate the importance of our work to our community. Dennis helped SAHC connect with Carolinas Nature Photographers Association, a group of talented photographers who have contributed many photographs for coverage of conservation preserves in the Highlands of Roan, the Black Mountains, the SAHC Community Farm, and more.

Thank you, Dennis and Carol, for your support!

Golden sun view from The Birdhouse, on an SAHC preserve in the Roan Highlands. Photo by Dennis Oakley.

20 | View from the Highlands 2022 Vol. 1 | Members’ Corner

AN NUAL R E P O RT 2022 2021 was another banner year for local conservation efforts across the mountains of Western North Carolina and East Tennessee. With your help, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy protected 1,644 more acres across all six of our geographic conservation focus areas — from the Highlands of Roan to the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Forest, and many critical streams, farms, forests, and wildlife corridors in between. Thank you to our donors, partners, and volunteers who helped make these conservation success stories possible.

Map: 2021 Completed Projects in SAHC’s Conservation Focus Areas Dark Ridge Assist

Hollybush Gap

482 Acres

17 Acres

Sugar Hollow

Full Sun Farm 32 Acres

Brown Family Farm

Appalachian Trail Countryside

175 Acres

Tr a il

Crabtree Bald Donated CE

Highlands of Roan

Elk River

87 Acres

n

a hi c ala A pp

120 Acres

Crabtree Bald

150 Acres

French Broad River Valley

Smoky Mountains

Black Mountains i Blue R

dg

y wa k r a eP

Belview Mountain 151 Acres

166 Acres

Bl u

eR

idg

eP

a

Balsam rkway Mountains Stevens Creek 14 Acres

Future Pisgah View State Park 10 Acres

Little Horse Creek 46 Acres

Cane River Headwaters

Big Horse Creek 134 Acres

60 Acres

Annual Report 2022

Protect

Stewa rd

Conn e c t

New land protection projects in 2021 preserved miles of headwater streams and forested stream corridors.

Cane Creek Headwaters photo by Michael Fredericks, CNPA

SAHC staff and volunteers of all ages helped plant over 5,000 red spruce seedlings to restore conifer habitat in the Highlands of Roan.

We were thrilled to begin hosting small group outings again in 2021, and we look forward to an exciting year of hikes and events in 2022!

Revenue

Fin anci al Sta tement SAHC Assets

2020/2021

$2.5 million 2019/2020

Current Assets Cash & Equivalents Receivables Prepaid Expenses Mitigation Credit Total Current Assets

$ 2,955,429 385,919 23,330 100,083 $ 3,464,761

$ 2,650,030 88,108 19,889 109,913 $ 2,867,940

Long-Term Assets Permanently Protected Properties Endowments/Investments Planned Giving Receivable Life Estate Land Assets Property & Equipment Escrow Accounts Trade Lands Total Long-Term Assets

$ 50,683,602 9,907,129 -3,372,837 2,946,054 19,265 -$ 66,928,887

$ 48,831,893 7,711,274 22,615 3,304,153 2,662,379 18,961 -$ 62,551,275

TOTAL ASSETS

$70,393,648

$65,419,215

Total Liabilities

$3,524,0891

$3,212,131

Total Net Assets

$66,869,559

$62,207,084

TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS $70,393,648

$65,419,215

Grants 16% Other 12%

Contributions 72%

Expenses $2 million Fundraising 2%

General & Management 4%

SAHC Liabilities & Net Assets

To obtain a copy of the complete SAHC financial statements, please send us a note: 372 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 or email: sahc@appalachian.org

Annual Report 2022

Program 94% Not including $6.4 million for purchases of land & conservation easements.

Grants and Supporting Funds Thank you to the following organizations and foundations for their critical support that make our conservation work possible. (Funding provided in the 2021 calendar year)

Appalachian Trail Conservancy — $10,000 to support feral hog control work, $5,000 for a Seasonal Roan Naturalist. $4,700 to support the installation of educational “peakfinder” signage on Round Bald.

The Beattie Foundation — $5,000 to support our conservation and stewardship efforts.

Cornell University — $2,000 to conduct restoration action that demonstrates low impact forestry practices to benefit high priority avian species of declining conifer forest in the Southern Appalachians.

Buncombe County — $140,970 to help fund farmland and forest conservation easement acquisitions in Buncombe County.

Conservation Trust for North Carolina — $20,000 to support the land acquisition of Chestnut Mountain.

Keep America Beautiful — $8,000 to coordinate volunteers and plant over 5,000 red spruce seedlings on our Highlands of Roan nature preserves.

Chestnut Mountain Nature Park, opening in April, is an ambitious endeavor to pair permanent protection of habitat and water resources with creation of a conservation-friendly, communitycentric space for outdoor recreation.

McLendon Family Foundation — $10,000 to support active stewardship and management in the Highlands of Roan.

National Forest Foundation — $15,152 to support the restoration of globally rare Appalachia grass and shrub bald habitat in the Highlands of Roan.

NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services — $424,344 to fund conservation easement acquisitions in the Sandy Mush farming community and Highlands of Roan.

Pigeon River Fund | The Community Foundation of WNC — $24,000 to support a conservation easement acquisition and water quality in Haywood County.

Grants that support agricultural conservation easements help protect vital “prime” soils and farmland resources, which are important in securing systems for local food production.

TN Dept. of Environment and Conservation — $4,000 to support feral hog control work.

USDA National Resources Conservation Service — $4,004 to provide fencing at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, $1,722 to support golden-winged warbler habitat management, $3,881 to support transitioning the Community Farm to certified organic.

Support for Blue Ridge Forever, a coalition of WNC land trusts; SAHC is the fiscal agent.

Z. Smith Reynolds — $21,520

Grant-supported habitat management benefits Golden-winged Warblers, a neo-tropical migratory songbird species threatened by habitat loss.

Annual Report 2022

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Asheville, NC Permit No. 593

372 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-1222 (828) 253-0095 Return Service Requested

Printed on responsibly forested paper.

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Have you considered including SAHC in your estate planning?

Legacy gifts help ensure the permanent protection of beloved conservation lands for the future. If you have included SAHC in your estate plans, please let us know.

We would like to thank you for your generosity and recognize you as a member of our Legacy Society.

Leave a Legacy...

For more information about joining our Legacy Society, contact Pauline Heyne at pauline@appalachian.org or 828.253.0095 ext 216.

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