Steward
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.
Preserves and Conservation Easements
Our stewardship team provides exemplary, enduring protection of SAHC-owned preserves and conservation easements, striving to build long-term relationships with landowners and neighbors to minimize risk of violations.
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SAHC preserves are land we own directly. 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.
Roan Stewardship
SAHC leads the way in landscape-scale stewardship of globally significant and fragile ecosystems of the Roan Highlands, responding to ecological threats such as invasive species, climate change, and over-use of fragile resources.
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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.
Featured Highlights
Year of the Spruce
In 2026, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is expanding on our previous work in spruce-fir habitat restoration, thanks to a grant from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative and support from The Nature Conservancy’s Plant...
