New Peakfinder Signage at Round Bald
Have you ever stood atop a gorgeous summit and wondered what…
Stewarding SAHC land and conservation easements AND leading the way in landscape-scale stewardship of the globally significant and fragile ecosystems of the Highlands of Roan.
What does “stewardship” mean in conservation?
The closing of new land conservation projects marks the end of the first stage of permanent land protection. However, in order to ensure that the conservation values – the water resources, habitat, soils and space for farming, etc. – remain protected in perpetuity, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy commits to the long-term stewardship of protected lands.
In conservation, stewardship refers to the ongoing commitment to care and protection of the land. This is a “forever” commitment, a dedication to consistently monitor conservation easements and nature preserves and to manage and restore habitat.
Provide exemplary, enduring stewardship of SAHC-owned preserves and conservation easements, minimizing risk of violations.
For land we directly own, SAHC preserves, we identify each property’s conservation values and strive to best protect those values in accordance with a management plan for each property. Each year, we monitor the properties that SAHC owns in fee simple, as well as our conservation easements. To address management issues, we work with community partners and organize volunteer work days on SAHC preserves — which have included invasive species removal, trail building and maintenance, removing trash or debris, and managing habitat for native species.
Conservation easements are forever. With each easement SAHC accepts, we commit ourselves to the permanent protection of each property’s unique conservation values. We do this by developing baselines, monitoring easements, processing permitted use requests, and employing enforcement actions when necessary. Success means working in partnership with landowners and the local communities in which our protected lands are located. We provide guidance to landowners to ensure that all parties have the knowledge and tools to uphold their end of the conservation agreement. We believe that a good relationship with landowners is the best method to guarantee the integrity of conservation easements is preserved.
Lead the way in landscape-scale stewardship of the globally significant and fragile ecosystems of the Highlands of Roan, responding to ecological threats including invasive species, disease, climate change, and over-use of fragile resources.
For more than four decades, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has led a collaborative program to manage the Roan Massif ecosystem and protect its exceptional natural, cultural and scenic heritage while accommodating non-destructive scientific, educational, and recreational public use.
SAHC convenes a Roan Stewardship Committee partnership of state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and educational institutions in collaborative restoration and management of the unique ecological communities of the Roan.
We work to apply the best science and practices to restoring and managing the Roan Massif through joint stewardship projects, resource conservation planning, and research and monitoring. This includes on-the-ground habitat management and restoration on SAHC-owned preserves, co-managed preserves, and lands managed by state and federal agencies. SAHC serves as a leader in southern Appalachian balds management, invasive species management, Golden-winged Warbler habitat conservation, and partner collaboration. We communicate with visitors to the Roan through our seasonal staff, grassy balds management program, and other means about the importance and fragility of the Roan Highlands.
Stewardship: How does it work?
The Stewardship aspect of SAHC’s work centers on the perpetual care and protection of land and water. This entails everything from walking the property to keeping detailed documentation of changes over time and building relationships with landowners. Our stewardship teams are charged with the health of the living systems that surround us — ensuring that the waters remain pure and flowing, that natural communities flourish and invasive threats are removed, and that the people who live on and use the land understand the terms of conservation easements.
SAHC is on the forefront of researching and applying innovative new technology to improve efficiencies. Since our beginning, we have worked to build strong partnerships with other organizations and agencies who also engage in stewardship of land and water resources.
Our volunteers play an important role in caring for the land – particularly during the summer as SAHC leads volunteer work days and partner efforts to maintain and restore the Appalachian grassy bald habitat in the Highlands of Roan.
