“The preserve is a major win for the College, our neighbors and the natural systems that will be protected from development in perpetuity,” says Dave Ellum, Dean and Director of the Center for Working Lands at Warren Wilson. “The Center for Working Lands will continue to serve our mission of providing students with hands-on, applied learning, skill-building and research in forest management and regenerative agriculture. The preserve will also strengthen our recently launched programs in Animal Science and Applied Climate Studies by serving as an in-situ learning lab. Our neighbors in the region will still have access to recreational activities on the preserve and will benefit from increased engagement with Warren Wilson College and Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. It is not often that a single effort provides this many wins!”

About our partners:

The Center for Working Lands at Warren Wilson College provides a landscape for investigating and demonstrating land management practices that integrate ecological services with economic and social returns. The College’s  managed farm, forests and gardens provide students with the opportunity to learn about and experiment with practical and innovative methods that demonstrate the possibilities for multiple outcomes. Through outreach to regional landowners, they are able to collaborate on research and the development of land management solutions that strengthen the ties between human and non-human communities for the benefit of both.