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Real Estate Agents and Non-profits Work Together to Protect the Mountains
Brokers show commitment to mountains by supporting land conservation

Release Date: November 29, 2007
Contacts: Phyllis Stiles, Blue Ridge Forever, 828.253.0095 x212

ASHEVILLE — An uncommon partnership between real estate agents and land trusts is proving beneficial for both. The Blue Ridge Forever coalition recently surpassed 100 partners in its real estate program started in May of 2007.

Conservation organizations frequently are perceived to be at odds with the interests of the real estate community when in truth the two have a common interest in protecting the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains according to the Blue Ridge Forever coalition. “Real estate agents across Western North Carolina recognize that a healthy housing market depends on pristine mountain views and exceptional landscapes,” Phyllis Stiles, campaign director for Blue Ridge Forever, said. “Homebuyers are drawn to the very qualities of a community that land trusts protect. We are grateful for these agents’ leadership and look forward to creating relationships with their new homeowners. This makes for a natural partnership—between the real estate agent, the land trust and the new homeowner.”

For every property transaction that the real estate partners complete, their clients receive a year-long membership in their local land trust. As members they will be invited to presentations and guided hikes and receive newsletters about land trust work to protect the special places we love in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. The thousands of dollars this program raises each year for the local land trusts helps put more people on the ground to complete land protection projects.

Town and Mountain Realty was one of the first companies to participate in the real estate partnership. “We live in a popular place— A lot of people are moving here, development is increasing, and wildlife habitats are being degraded,” stated Mike Miller, co-owner of Town and Mountain Realty. “I appreciate my native mountains. We try to give back to our community, and this cause was one we thought was important.”

The protection of lands in Western North Carolina is essential to residents across the southeastern United States. Its headwaters furnish drinking water for millions of residents in the region. Its forests are considered the most ecologically rich in the temperate world and its national parks attract millions of visitors each year. Additionally, the land provides livelihood for foresters and farmers, and connects them to their forebears.

The added support from real estate agents and property owners couldn’t come at a more critical time for land conservation in the Southern Blue Ridge. In the last two decades, the region has lost 261,000 acres of forests, farms, stream banks and wildlife habitats to development — an area ten times the size of Asheville.

“With about 9000 real estate agents located in Western North Carolina we hope to expand the real estate partnership over the next year,” stated Stiles. “Working together local land trusts and real estate agents can make huge strides toward meeting our five-year goal of protecting 50,000 endangered acres in Western North Carolina by 2010.”

Participants in the Blue Ridge Forever real estate partner program are listed on the Blue Ridge Forever website at www.blueridgeforever.info under partners. Click here to view the real estate partners.

Blue Ridge Forever is a coalition campaign led by local land trusts and national conservation organizations to raise public awareness and financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. The coalition works in local communities to ensure that critical lands are protected for clean drinking water, recreation, tourism, and working farms. To date, land trusts have conserved more than 150,000 acres in Western North Carolina. To learn more, visit www.blueridgeforever.info.

BLUE RIDGE FOREVER COALITION MEMBERS
Local Land Trusts:
Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
Conservation Trust for North Carolina
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
High Country Conservancy
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
Land Trust for the Little Tennessee
National Committee for the New River
Pacolet Area Conservancy
outhern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

National Conservation Organizations:
The Trust for Public Land
The Conservation Fund (Advisory member)
The North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (Advisory member)

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	Real Estate Agents and Non-profits Work Together to Protect the Mountains Brokers show commitment to mountains by supporting land conservation Release Date: November 29, 2007 Contacts: Phyllis Stiles, Blue Ridge Forever, 828.253.0095 x212 ASHEVILLE — An uncommon partnership between real estate agents and land trusts is proving beneficial for both. The Blue Ridge Forever coalition recently surpassed 100 partners in its real estate program started in May of 2007. Conservation organizations frequently are perceived to be at odds with the interests of the real estate community when in truth the two have a common interest in protecting the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains according to the Blue Ridge Forever coalition. “Real estate agents across Western North Carolina recognize that a healthy housing market depends on pristine mountain views and exceptional landscapes,” Phyllis Stiles, campaign director for Blue Ridge Forever, said. “Homebuyers are drawn to the very qualities of a community that land trusts protect. We are grateful for these agents’ leadership and look forward to creating relationships with their new homeowners. This makes for a natural partnership—between the real estate agent, the land trust and the new homeowner.” For every property transaction that the real estate partners complete, their clients receive a year-long membership in their local land trust. As members they will be invited to presentations and guided hikes and receive newsletters about land trust work to protect the special places we love in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains. The thousands of dollars this program raises each year for the local land trusts helps put more people on the ground to complete land protection projects. Town and Mountain Realty was one of the first companies to participate in the real estate partnership. “We live in a popular place— A lot of people are moving here, development is increasing, and wildlife habitats are being degraded,” stated Mike Miller, co-owner of Town and Mountain Realty. “I appreciate my native mountains. We try to give back to our community, and this cause was one we thought was important.” The protection of lands in Western North Carolina is essential to residents across the southeastern United States. Its headwaters furnish drinking water for millions of residents in the region. Its forests are considered the most ecologically rich in the temperate world and its national parks attract millions of visitors each year. Additionally, the land provides livelihood for foresters and farmers, and connects them to their forebears. The added support from real estate agents and property owners couldn’t come at a more critical time for land conservation in the Southern Blue Ridge. In the last two decades, the region has lost 261,000 acres of forests, farms, stream banks and wildlife habitats to development — an area ten times the size of Asheville. “With about 9000 real estate agents located in Western North Carolina we hope to expand the real estate partnership over the next year,” stated Stiles. “Working together local land trusts and real estate agents can make huge strides toward meeting our five-year goal of protecting 50,000 endangered acres in Western North Carolina by 2010.” Participants in the Blue Ridge Forever real estate partner program are listed on the Blue Ridge Forever website at www.blueridgeforever.info under partners. Click here to view the real estate partners. Blue Ridge Forever is a coalition campaign led by local land trusts and national conservation organizations to raise public awareness and financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. The coalition works in local communities to ensure that critical lands are protected for clean drinking water, recreation, tourism, and working farms. To date, land trusts have conserved more than 150,000 acres in Western North Carolina. To learn more, visit www.blueridgeforever.info. BLUE RIDGE FOREVER COALITION MEMBERS Local Land Trusts: Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy Conservation Trust for North Carolina Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina High Country Conservancy Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust Land Trust for the Little Tennessee National Committee for the New River Pacolet Area Conservancy outhern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy National Conservation Organizations: The Trust for Public Land The Conservation Fund (Advisory member) The North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (Advisory member) # # #