Protected Areas - Success Stories

Full stories on recent updates available on our Blog

SAHC Completes Landmark Project in Southern Buncombe County.

On December 22, 2011, SAHC protected 474 acres on Little Pisgah Mountain, which has been a priority for both SAHC and the Buncombe County Land Conservation Advisory Board. This project placed conservation easements on six parcels, and combines with neighboring conservation easements and other preserves to bring the total amount of land protected on Little Pisgah Mountain to more than 1,400 acres. “The Little Pisgah project is a major step in preservation of mountaintops in an important focus area of the Buncombe County land conservation plan,” according to Albert Sneed, chairman of the Buncombe County Conservation Advisory Board. Read More

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy purchases 90 acres adjacent to public trails and the Woodfin watershed in Buncombe County.

On Friday, December 16, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) purchased 90 acres on Snowball Mountain in Buncombe County, permanently preserving scenic views for recreational visitors, clean water sources for area residents, and habitat for native species. Nestled in the publicly treasured Craggy Mountains, this tract is highly visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway and national forest land, and it adjoins the publicly accessible Snowball Mountain Trail and Camp Sequoyah Trail.

"Protecting part of Snowball Mountain is a beautiful example of what we try to do here at SAHC," says SAHC's Land Protection Director, Michelle Pugliese. "Snowball Mountain holds immense conservation value as it will protect viewsheds, threatened wildlife habitat, high water quality, biodiversity, and pockets of quality high elevation northern hardwood forest. We are thankful to work with such generous landowners and conservationists on this project." Read more

Crucial Property Protected Adjacent to Yellow Mountain in the Highlands of Roan.

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) acquired the title to a critically significant property in the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area in the Highlands of Roan. This 225 acre tract will be protected forever. As Board Member, Jay Leutze put it, "Spear Tops has it all." From endangered and threatened species such as Rock Gnome Lichen and Trailing Wolfsbane, to a stunning waterfall, this property is one of SAHC's most spectacular pieces of land. At 4,900 at the summit, Spear Tops offers remarkable views of the Highlands of Roan and is a crucial addition to North Carolina's conservation. Read More

492 Acres Protected around Asheville Watershed

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) recently purchased 492 acres of land adjacent to the Asheville watershed, permanently protecting stunning vistas and watershed headwaters just 19 miles outside the city of Asheville. Preserving this Laurel Ridge property from potential future development also keeps intact a major portion of views from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Craggy Gardens Visitor Center.

'This acquisition is particularly exciting because the size and location of the property strengthens the protected landscape between the Asheville and Bee Tree watersheds,” says Carl Silverstein, Executive Director for SAHC. “This provides a positive impact on water quality as well as keen advantage in protecting wildlife habitat, forest quality, and other conservation values. Read More

114-acre Property Protected in the Swannanoa Mountains

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) is with busy land project closings from now until the end of the year. At the end of October, SAHC closed on a 114-acre conservation easement in the beautiful Swannanoa Mountains, along Jim's Branch, that will protect important tributaries that flow into Christian Creek and is within 6,600 linear feet of the French Broad river basin.
Jim's Branch is approximately two and a half miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway and practically adjacent to two other properties held by SAHC. While there is no direct landscape connectivity between Jim's Branch and the Blue Ridge Parkway or other conservation lands, the conservation easement is connected to neighboring forested land, other SAHC conservation easements, and natural corridors that allow for species movement. Jim's Branch close proximity to other protected land greatly increases the conservation value of the property and the viewshed from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Read More

Acres along Appalachian Trail Corridor and Buck Mountain Protected

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) has secured another small but significant tract of land protecting the Appalachian Trail (AT). This 13.2-acre project will leave an indelible mark on the AT viewshed. Buck Mountain's visibility to the public makes the property an essential acquisition. Although there are no stunning viewsheds or overlooks from the property, Buck Mountain's scenic and recreational value is immeasurable due to its lasting presence to any AT thru-hiker. Read More

SAHC transfers 35 acres to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

On August 8th, 2011, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) transferred 35 crucial acres to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the US Forest Service. Located in Macon County, North Carolina, Wesser Bald will be utilized as a buffer between ATC lands and private property which is at risk of being developed.
SAHC originally acquired the 35 acres in 2007, with the intent to sell the land to the Forest Service once the Forest Service attained the appropriate funding. Although it has been four years since the original acquisition, the transfer ensures that the ecological standards of Wesser Bald will always be upheld. The addition of this tract, along with an adjoining 42 acres on which SAHC holds a conservation easement, closes a wide gap in a swath of contiguous Forest Service lands that were vulnerable to development. Read More

Conservancies Complete Protection of Little Yellow Mountain Summit!

Just a few years ago, much of Little Yellow Mountain in Mitchell and Avery counties was slated for development. Today the summit of that 5,504-foot peak is totally protected thanks to the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. The two organizations recently closed on a 207-acre tract rising to the summit from the west side of the mountain, ensuring that the entire mountain top will remain free of development. Eventually, all of the property will become part of Yellow Mountain State Natural Area allowing future generations to enjoy this amazing place. Read More

Key Tract Off Parkway Protected in the Craggy Mountains – 37 acres adjacent to Asheville Watershed, Pisgah National Forest, and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) recently worked with Joe Carson, a generous landowner in Buncombe County, who donated a conservation easement on his 37- acre property in Swannanoa. Conservation of this land is crucial because of its location. It is less than a mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway and is adjacent to the protected Asheville Watershed and Pisgah National Forest. It is also close to SAHC held conservation easements that total over 2,500 acres. This easement contributes to the network of protected lands within the Craggy Mountains and protects the scenic integrity of views from the Blue Ridge Parkway and other public roads. Read More

Long Branch Environmental Education Center – Non-profit education center protects 864 acres in perpetuity

Long Branch Environmental Education Center (Long Branch) is an educational non-profit organization located eighteen miles northwest of Asheville on the Buncombe and Haywood county line. It was founded in 1974 as an ecological sanctuary. Since then, it has evolved into an educational center with the purpose of teaching strategies of sustainability and self-reliance. In June, 864 of their acres in Sandy Mush and Beaverdam were protected for future generations. Read More

Conservation Success In Avery County: 199 More Acres Protected In The Highlands Of Roan!

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy recently added 199 more acres of protected land within the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area planning boundary through a land purchase. Located along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line, the Highlands of Roan project has been SAHC's top priority since its founding in 1974. Since then, SAHC has led an effort to protect nearly 19,000 acres in the landscape. Other key partners working in the landscape include The Nature Conservancy, state parks agencies in North Carolina and Tennessee, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service.

Located in a rural part of southern Avery County, this property on Burleson Bald adjoins land previously purchased by SAHC and also land SAHC has transferred to the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. The addition of this tract creates a 740-acre swath of contiguous protected lands. The property is within the Yellow Mountain/ Raven Cliffs Significant Natural Heritage Area and much of it lies within a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area. Acquisition of this property also protects the viewshed from the Blue Ridge Parkway's North Toe River managed overlook. Read More

Landowners Protect 13 acres in Haywood County

Rural preservation leaders in the Bethel community of Haywood County have announced the permanent protection of 13 acres along Garden Creek. The property features 13 acres of largely agricultural land, which provides corn, hay, and the critical calving unit for a larger cow-calf operation. The land also includes a residential area, a barn, and associated farm buildings. While the public will not have access to the property, the land includes more than 1,000 feet of Garden Creek, which helps provide water for downstream farmers, the Towns of Canton and Clyde, Evergreen Paper, trout, one species of rare fish, two species of rare freshwater mussels, and hellbender salamanders. Read More

Gott Farm

The Gotts' 218-acre farm in Madison County, NC epitomizes responsible land management and sustainability. Peter and Polly grow their own food and take seriously their responsibility of stewarding the land. Being able to hand their property down to their children intact is one of their highest priorities. To do that, they decided to put their land into conservation easements with Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC).

The first conservation easement was completed in 2002 and protected 210 acres. The farm is now protected in its entirety; the second easement was signed on April 1st, 2011, and protects the remaining eight acres, which are adjacent to Pisgah National Forest. These conservation easements assure that the land where Peter and Polly live and raised their family will be here, relatively the same, for generations to come.

“Without the conservation easements, who knows what could happen to our farm when we're gone?” said Polly. “The conservation easements ensure that nothing will happen to this place.” The property is also within the viewshed of the Appalachian Trail and adds to the large contiguous area of protected lands in Madison County. Read More

SAHC Purchases Two Conservation Priority Tracts

Avery County, NC- The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) has purchased two conservation priority tracts in the Roaring Creek Valley of the Highlands of Roan, preserving Golden-winged Warbler habitat, scenic views from the Appalachian Trail and pristine waterfalls. full article

Claxton Farm Easement Conserves Iconic Working Farmland

Bunccombe County, NC – Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's Farmland Preservation Initiative grows with the addition of Claxton Farm to 3,000 acres of SAHC-protected working farmland. SAHC has partnered with landowners Porter and Martha Ann Claxton to permanently conserve 480 acres of their 550 acre property through a working lands conservation easement. full article

Rocky Fork One Step Closer To Public Legacy

Erwin, TN – Tennessee’s gateway to the Southern Appalachian Mountains – the 9,624-acre property known as Rocky Fork – is now one step closer to being protected, with the property’s acquisition by The Conservation Fund and the USDA Forest Service from New Forestry, LLC. full article

State Wildlife Action Plans assist mountain land conservation

The sharp zoo-zee, zoo-zoo-zee call of the Black-throated Green Warbler can be heard from the Highlands of Roan to the lower elevation river valleys in summertime, the breeding season for the songbird. Like many species in the Eastern woodlands, the Warbler relies on several types of habitats, particularly as it migrates with a team of other bird species to the Caribbean and Central America. full article Download entire NC Swap Summary