Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Mission To conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, and scenic beauty of the mountains of western North Carolina and east Tennessee for the benefit of present and future generations. We achieve this by forging and maintaining long-term conservation relationships with private landowners, owning and managing land and encouraging strong, healthy local communities.

Geographic Area
western NC focusing on Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, Mitchell, and Yancey counties, and east TN, focusing on Carter, Johnson and Unicoi counties

Contact Info
Email: SAHC@appalachian.org    Web: www.appalachian.org
Address: 34 Wall Street, Suite 802, Asheville, NC 28801-2710
TEL: (828) 253-0095       FAX: (828) 253-1248

Historical Highlights
This year we are celebrating our thirtieth anniversary. In our first three decades, we have safeguarded over 22,000 acres of important lands in western North Carolina and east Tennessee in the following significant areas:

	The Highlands of Roan. Located on the North Carolina/Tennessee line, this is one of the most remarkable places on earth. Its grassy bald mountaintops and spruce/fir forests are among the rarest of rare biological communities, and are of global – not just national – significance. Our visionary founders developed a conservation plan for Roan, and patiently secured one tract at a time, eventually protecting over 15,000 acres. This proactive long-term approach, pioneered by SAHC and now followed the world over, is called a landscape conservation initiative.
	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. SAHC has protected over 1,600 acres here, including sites along the Blue Ridge Parkway, South Toe River, and at Montreat. The NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund recently approved a $3.9 million grant to SAHC to purchase a conservation easement on the 2,463-acre Montreat wilderness.
	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 2,100 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.
	The Newfound & Walnut Mountains. Stretching northwest of Asheville, these mountains include 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 over 2,500 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.
	The east Tennessee mountains. We have protected several special places near the Appalachian Trail in these mountains. To date, we have protected over 500 acres.

SAHC leads long-term “hands-on” efforts to steward lands we secure. We partner with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies to restore and protect the high-elevation grassy bald mountaintops at Roan. In this work, we coordinate dedicated volunteers who contribute 4,600 hours of service annually.

In the 1990's, SAHC helped establish new land trusts in communities not previously served by a land trust. This includes the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee and the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust. Both of these land trusts are now independent, vital organizations, thanks in part to the good start given them by SAHC.