Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

Huge thanks to our corporate partners at Wicked W**d Brewing for coming out to volunteer on the SAHC Community Farm last month. In addition to supporting conservation through donations from their Beers that Build program, Wicked W**d employee volunteers helped manage land in our silvopasture, stream restoration, and shortleaf pine reforestation projects. Thank you for your support!

Come out and see us TOMORROW (Saturday, Oct. 17) at the Wicked W**d Brewpub in downtown Asheville from 12 to 5 pm. it's Appfest time! Check out cool SAHC gear, live music, and a local market by the Appalachian Makers Collective.

*Photos courtesy of Wicked W**d Brewing

10/15/2026

Early voting starts TODAY in Buncombe County! This year, Buncombe County voters will have the opportunity to help shape the future of our landscape. With growing development pressure and increasing need for thoughtful conservation of imperiled natural resources, now is the time to invest in our future. That’s why Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has endorsed the Open Space Conservation Bond and the Affordable Housing Bond on the November ballot.

Voting yes on these bonds will help protect the people and places we love.The Open Space Bond helps keep our drinking water safe, protects farmland and forests, and creates new public parks. The Affordable Housing Bond helps guide growth to the right places.

Read more at https://appalachian.org/vote-yes-for-open-space-funding-in-buncombe-county/

Early voting runs October 15–31. Election Day is November 3.

Vote Yes on Bonds

10/15/2026

In September, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy accepted the donation of a 70-acre tract on the northern and western edge of the Roan Massif that contains the headwater sources and roughly half the length of Barnett Branch, a tributary of Big Rock Creek.

With elevations ranging from 3,000 to 4,100 ft., this mostly forested property in Mitchell County, NC adjoins Pisgah National forest along its eastern and southern boundaries and extends down the northern slopes of Fork Mountain.

“The entire property is highly visible from the Appalachian Trail, and preserving the view from the AT is a high conservation priority” says Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “The pristine trout waters of Barnett Branch and its tributaries are not only beautiful; they also support significant wildlife habitat. We’re excited to continue preserving these important headwater sources and scenic views in the Highlands of Roan.”

The western side of the Roan Mountain Massif Natural Area touches the eastern side of SAHC’s new Barnett Branch Headwaters Preserve. In the future, this acquisition may enable SAHC to partner with the NC Natural Heritage Program to complete a biological inventory of the property. SAHC plans to own and manage the property as a nature preserve for the long term, and may lead future hikes as part of our guided Connecting People with Land outings.

Want to see more conservation success stories like this? Now is a great time to double your impact! In honor of SAHC reaching the 100K acres protected milestone this year, all new and increased gifts to SAHC will be MATCHED, up to $100,000 – thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Donate at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/southern-appalachian-highlands-conservancy/annual-giving-campaign

10/14/2026

Planting Day! This week, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and North Carolina Wildlife Federation – with support from Wildbud Natives Nursery and community volunteers – planted nearly 2,000 young plants (aka plugs) throughout the 5-acre wetland area at SAHC's Bowditch Bottoms Preserve in Yancey County.

We planted a variety of native species, based on recommendations following a floristic quality inventory conducted last year. These newly planted species included: swamp milkweed, bushy bluestem, swamp hibiscus, blue lobelia, and more – all with the goal of increasing biodiversity and habitat quality for wildlife.

We deeply appreciate all the volunteers and partners that have helped with this project so far, and we can't wait to continue the work on this conserved land!

Photos courtesy Luke Bennett, NCWF

10/13/2026

Last week, the 2026 Natural Areas Conference brought together natural resource managers from across the nation to explore "Where Science Meets Stewardship."

As a sponsor of the conference, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy connected to participants through two field workshops - one led by SAHC Board member and retired USDA Forest Service biologist Gary Kauffman and one co-led by SAHC Roan Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett.

Marquette co-led an outing for approximately 40 people to explore the dynamic ecology and management challenges of the Roan Highlands' grassy bald ecosystems. Co-leading a hike with Reed Noss – Chief Science Advisor for Southeastern Grasslands Institute & Endangered Ecosystems Alliance – Marquette was excited to connect with people intent on sharing knowledge about natural resource management.

"With hundreds of participants from across the country, this conference really provided us with a fantastic opportunity to collaborate and learn alongside people who are doing similar work from coast to coast," said Marquette. "I was excited to make connections that cross so many boundaries - across geographic state or tribal boundaries, and from all kinds of organizations. I'm inspired to connect to other land and water management practitioners conducting research, practicing on-the-ground stewardship of natural areas, and protecting biodiversity for future generations. That kind of collaboration is very special."

The Natural Areas Conference (NAC) is a place where practitioners gather to share emerging research and evidence-based practice, and gain access to new relationships, knowledge, and collaboration that can advance plans, practices, and methodologies to address a wide variety of challenges in the management of natural areas. Land stewardship benefits from shared knowledge rich in a variety of perspectives to enrich learning for all. Learn more about Natural Areas Association and the conference at https://naturalareas.org/2026_natural_areas_conference.php

Photos by Travis Bordley

10/12/2026

Rachel B. Pressley Photography really captured the color of fall harvest season at Flying Cloud Farm! We're excited to work with Rachel on collaborative posts like this, highlighting Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy farmland conservation work.

10/06/2026

What an incredible celebration! Thank you to all our members, partners, volunteers, supporters, former and current Board, former and current staff, former AmeriCorps members, and friends for celebrating Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy's 100K Acres Protected milestone on Sunday!

We enjoyed a heartfelt night of camaraderie – with laughter, hugs, stirring remarks, soulful music, shared memories, and just a few tears. YOU are the heart and soul of conservation efforts to protect the mountains we all cherish so deeply. Thank you for coming together to celebrate. From young future conservationists to venerable leaders who pioneered SAHC's early successes, this event reminded us all that the work of conservation transcends generations.

Here are a few images from the evening. Please share, comment, and/or add your own pics in reply.

Special thanks to Daniel Shearin and Friends for fantastic, toe-tapping tunes, to Highland Brewing Company for hosting and to Leah Wong for her welcoming remarks, and to all our other event sponsors: Mast General Store, Worley & Peltz, PLLC, Equinox Environmental, Kee Mapping & Surveying, Russell and Armstrong Gallery, Jennings Environmental, and BLocal Asheville &WNC.

If you are new to Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, now is a great time to join us. All new and increased gifts to SAHC will be matched, up to $100,000, thanks to a generous anonymous donor! https://secure.givelively.org/donate/southern-appalachian-highlands-conservancy/annual-giving-campaign

10/05/2026

Conserve the Mountains We Love! This year, Buncombe County voters will have the opportunity to help shape the future of our landscape.

For generations, these mountains have shaped who we are. But development pressure keeps growing.

Now is the time to invest in our future. That's why Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has endorsed the Open Space Conservation Bond and the Affordable Housing Bond on the November ballot.

The Open Space Bond protects farmland, forests, and wildlife habitat, and it creates new public parks. The Affordable Housing Bond helps guide growth to the right places.

Past bonds prove this works. They helped conserve 2,600 acres of land, funded 969 affordable homes, and brought in $7 of outside money for every $1. For example, past bonds helped leverage significant grants from the NC Land and Water Fund for recent SAHC conservation projects in Buncombe County.

Early voting runs October 15–31. Election Day is November 3. Learn more at voteyesonbonds.org.

10/02/2026

Our amazing collaborative work with Solstice Handmade is now available online, including a NEW design celebrating 100,000 acres protected. Visit https://www.solsticehandmade.com/sahc to see the online collection. We'll have all of this and MORE at some of our upcoming events, including the celebration this Sunday at Highland Brewing Company.