Introduction to The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

We are a lean, volunteer-based organization with 1,300 members. We have seven full-time staff and our annual operating budget is $700,000. Although we are small, our professional standards are of the highest caliber.

We are the oldest and most accomplished land trust based in the southern Blue Ridge. Our roots date to the early 1950's, when the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) decided to replace 26 miles of AT road-walking in Tennessee with 72 miles of new trails in the mountains. This ambitious trail relocation was championed by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club under leadership of Stanley A. Murray.


The new AT route crossed the seventeen-mile chain of grassy balds in the Highlands of Roan, one of the most remarkable places on earth. The grassy bald mountaintops, red spruce / Fraser fir forest, and granitic cliff ecosystems of Roan are among the rarest of rare biological communities, and are of global – not just national – significance.

In November 1966, Stan Murray convened a meeting of seven people, with the objective of identifying and contacting landowners on Roan to discuss safeguarding AT lands and views. From this nucleus of committed citizens grew The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy we know today.

The small group was named the Roan Mountain Preservation Committee of the ATC. Early on, Stan and the Committee realized that focusing narrowly on protecting the trail corridor alone would not suffice to preserve the many-textured treasures of Roan and the Southern Appalachian Highlands. In 1974, members of that committee formed an independent land trust: The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

Since then, we have safeguarded over 40,000 acres of important lands in western North Carolina and east Tennessee.

Recent Conservation Work in Our Focus Areas

Since the fall of 2007, we have completed eighteen major conservation transactions, which protect 3,038 acres of key mountain lands. This includes major acquisitions near the Appalachian Trail, on the Tuckaseegee River in Jackson County, in the Balsam Mountains adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the headwaters of the South Toe River in Yancey County and on the crest of the Black Mountains - the highest elevation range in the east.

We are now working on 21 significant transactions that we hope will protect another 17,500 acres in the next 12-18 months. This includes more watershed tracts that provide drinking water to millions across the southeast and the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork tract in TN, which is the largest unprotected tract in the Southern Appalachians. These areas are outlined below. In all these areas, we are continuing to pursue high-priority conservation transactions.

The Highlands of Roan. Located in the Bald Mountains on the North Carolina /Tennessee line. Our visionary founders developed a conservation plan for Roan, and began patiently securing one tract at a time there, often in partnership with other agencies such as the US Forest Service; The Nature Conservancy; the States of Tennessee and North Carolina, and others. Over time, we and our partners systematically quilted together a protected landscape totaling over 15,000 acres. SAHC's visionary founders pioneered this proactive long-term landscape scale approach, which is now followed the world over.

A few milestones on Roan include protecting much of Yellow Mountain – in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (1975), Jane Bald (1981), Hump Mountain (1982), Hampton Creek Cove (1986), and a significant portion of Grassy Ridge (2000), and additional tracts on Big Yellow (2002).

Roughly 8,000-9,000 acres in the Highlands of Roan remain unprotected. Our current priorities include raising funds to secure several high-priority sites near the Appalachian Trail, which are currently on the real estate market.

The East Tennessee Mountains. Within the Bald Mountains and Iron Mountains. We have protected several special places near the Appalachian Trail in these mountains. To date, we have protected over 500 acres, including a 140-acre site on Walnut Mountain, adjoining the Cherokee National Forest.

Partnering to develop a strategy to protect the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork tract. We are working with the US Forest Service, the ATC, The Conservation Fund and the State of Tennessee to secure this irreplaceable resource. For decades the US Forest Service has sought to acquire this wild undeveloped tract of forested land adjacent to the Cherokee National Forest. Approximately four miles of the AT traverse the ridge tops on the western portion of the property. The rugged terrain of this property is prime habitat for black bear, deer, turkey, and peregrine falcon. It is very popular with hunters and anglers, and is of significant interest to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. (TWRA).

The tract includes scenic high elevation heath and grass balds and watershed lands along the southern boundary of Sampson Mountain Wilderness, which adjoins the property. Sixteen miles of streams, some with waterfalls, drain the property. Rocky Fork is classified as blue ribbon native trout waters. Of historical note, one of the last and bloodiest of frontier battles against the Cherokee, led by John Sevier (the first Governor of Tennessee) occurred in 1789 at a site near Flint Creek on this property.

The Black Mountains. Reaching northeast of Asheville, the Black Mountains are a globally outstanding ecological system that plays a key role in maintaining biodiversity in the Southern Appalachians. Since the days of Elisha Mitchell and Big Tom Wilson, these mountains have been a cornerstone of conservation efforts in North Carolina.

Within the range are 130,000 + acres of contiguous protected forestlands, including US Forest Service holdings; National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway lands; Mount Mitchell State Park; and the City of Asheville Watershed. SAHC has protected 9,000 acres in this area, including sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway, South Toe River, headwaters of the Catawba River, at Montreat, Christmount Christian Assembly and the Woodfin Watershed.

Recently, SAHC secured donated conservation easement on 1,300 acres on the Cane River. After years of negotiations, a Charlotte family donated a conservation easement on this remarkable tract, adjacent to the Hanes family's Cane River preserve. The donated value was appraised at $10 million. Reaching elevations of 5,560 feet, the property is designated a nationally significant natural area by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program and an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. The Cane River, which flows through the property, is designated by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the NC Natural Heritage Program as nationally significant aquatic habitat. This conservation easement helps safeguard aquatic habitat for native brook trout, hellbender salamander and the federally endangered Appalachian elktoe mussel (which is found downstream of the conservation easement).

The Balsam, Plott Balsam & Smoky Mountains. Bisected by the Blue Ridge Parkway along the Haywood / Jackson county line, this area features pristine headwaters, high-biodiversity streams, mature forests, and high-altitude ridges adjoining the Pisgah National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These public lands are powerful magnets for real estate development on adjacent private tracts. SAHC is working to minimize sprawl-type development next to public lands, and has protected over 10,000 acres so far. Highlights include sites at the Cataloochee Ranch; on Cold Mountain surrounded by the Shining Rock Wilderness; and the headwaters of the Tuckaseegee River, and theWaynesville watershed. This 8,000-acre property fronts on Blue Ridge Pkwy in the Balsam Mountains for ten miles. Partnership conservation easement with the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee.

The Newfound & Walnut Mountains. Stretching northwest of Asheville, this mountain system includes high grassy meadows along ridge tops, steep forested coves and slopes, and intact bottom land farms. All of these features are threatened as population expands from Asheville into this formerly remote area. SAHC has safeguarded almost 8,000 acres so far, including Sandymush Bald, and the Canton watershed – seven miles of the most pristine headwaters streams in North Carolina flowing through an 873-acre botanical wonderland. Just in the last six months we have protected 1,003 acres of farmland in the Sandy Mush community.

Our Work is Guided by the Following Considerations:

• These mountains are under intense pressure. The Blue Ridge mountains include some of the most important habitat for rare plants and animals, pristine drinking water sources and unique scenic treasures in the Southeast. These resources are under intense development pressure, as masses move here from elsewhere for our good climate and high quality of life. Across our region, key open space lands are being sold and developed quickly. Properties formerly too remote to attract much attention just a few years ago are now rapidly being sold off for development at premium prices.

• The places we protect – or lose – in the southern Blue Ridge over the next few years will determine the character of our landscape forever. We are committed to working as hard as possible to secure this unique landscape while there is still the opportunity. How will our small organization achieve this monumental task? Here is a brief summary of our strategy:

• We pursue the highest standards of excellence in selecting and implementing projects. We rigorously select the best lands for conservation, and focus on safeguarding the right places in the right ways. We plan, map, and prioritize which areas most deserve our finite time and financial resources, in order to maximize our conservation impact. Then proactively reach out to landowners of key tracts to build their trust in SAHC. As we negotiate and complete transactions, we follow the highest professional standards to insure that our efforts are genuinely effective in the long term.

• We partner & collaborate with other land trusts, conservation groups & public agencies. Our efforts have more impact when we partner with others engaged in similar work. Accordingly, we are pursuing partnerships with other land trusts and conservation organizations in the region.

• We ensure responsible long-term stewardship of lands we secure. We will pursue excellence in the management and defense of our conservation easements. In order to protect land forever, our easements must not be vulnerable to legal challenge, especially after the original donor sells or bequeaths the property. We will complete a baseline survey prior to accepting an easement; monitor easements annually; and continue building our endowment to defend easements in court.

• We thoughtfully assess and evaluate our conservation impact. We will evaluate our work to ensure that we indeed positively impact biodiversity and water quality. Relevant questions include: Are we securing: (a) important sites that extend and connect with other protected lands? (b) known biodivesity hot spots? (c) significant acreage that can meaningfully support threatened plant and animal species? and (d) are we seizing – or missing – important opportunities?

• Our work benefits local economies and public safety. The natural assets we are working to protect have helped this region become an international destination for hiking, biking, camping, boating, fishing and hunting. Tourism income from these activities is crucial to our rural mountain communities. Securing our natural heritage and scenic views makes good sense economically.

Our work also has an important public safety component: These mountains are the source of rivers that provide drinking water to cities and towns all over the State. Safeguarding mountain watersheds is crucial as demand for safe water in the Southeast escalates with growing population and commercial water usage. These watersheds also soak up and filter storm water, thereby providing a natural defense for our communities against damaging and costly floods.

For more information about the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and its work throughout the region, please contact us.

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