Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy
Encyclopedia
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy Is a non-profit conservation
organization working to preserve water and land resources in Western North Carolina
. CMLC is an example of a land trust
, or an organization that engages in conservation efforts through acquisition of deeded land and conservation and farm easements.
to determine the natural areas of Henderson County worth protecting. The survey determined that the mountain bogs, dense forests, and scenic mountain peaks surrounding Hendersonville were valuable resources worthy of conservation efforts. In 1994 the Natural Heritage Trust of Henderson County was formed and a year later it was renamed the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and has expanded its area of focus to include Transylvania and parts of Buncombe, Rutherford, and Jackson Counties. The organization immediately began working with local landowners to protect farm, forest, park, and natural lands with the support of local community members. Since its creation, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy has grown to be one of the premier land conservancies in the South East, protecting some 18000 acres (72.8 km²) of land, and is a fully accredited land trust under the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy has pioneered the use of conservation easements in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. A conservation easement is a way for land owners to ensure that their land remains in its natural state while capitalizing on some of the land's potential development value. CMLC also works with the North Carolina Division of State Parks and other government partners to acquire land for sites such as Chimney Rock State Park.
to save some 1500 acres (6.1 km²) of a non-contiguous property spanning across Henderson
, Polk
, and Rutherford
counties. The Worlds Edge Property, formerly owned by The Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation, contains over 20000 feet (6,096 m) of streams and waterfalls, in addition to numerous endangered salamander, bird, and bat species. In December 2009, CMLC acquired the 1527 acres (6.2 km²) Weed Patch Mountain tract north of Lake Lure, which adds to the corridor of conserved land including the State Park.
CMLC purchased the property that forms Lewis Creek Nature Park in 2004 to be maintained for the use of homeowners in the adjacent neighborhood. The North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program has been contracted to conduct stream restoration on the portion of Lewis Creek running through the nature park. The finish date of this project has been delayed from the original estimation of August 2008. Due to the fragile and unique nature of the park, it is not open to the general public, but Carolina Mountain Land conservancy does hold tree planting and exotic invasive species removal work days which are.
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
organization working to preserve water and land resources in Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina
Western North Carolina is the region of North Carolina which includes the Appalachian Mountains, thus it is often known geographically as the state's Mountain Region. It is sometimes included with upstate South Carolina as the "Western Carolinas", which is also counted as a single media market...
. CMLC is an example of a land trust
Land trust
There are two distinct definitions of a land trust:* a private, nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements; or* an agreement...
, or an organization that engages in conservation efforts through acquisition of deeded land and conservation and farm easements.
History
The Conservancy began with a 1991 survey proposed by Lela McBride and the Hendersonville League of Women VotersLeague of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
to determine the natural areas of Henderson County worth protecting. The survey determined that the mountain bogs, dense forests, and scenic mountain peaks surrounding Hendersonville were valuable resources worthy of conservation efforts. In 1994 the Natural Heritage Trust of Henderson County was formed and a year later it was renamed the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and has expanded its area of focus to include Transylvania and parts of Buncombe, Rutherford, and Jackson Counties. The organization immediately began working with local landowners to protect farm, forest, park, and natural lands with the support of local community members. Since its creation, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy has grown to be one of the premier land conservancies in the South East, protecting some 18000 acres (72.8 km²) of land, and is a fully accredited land trust under the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
Approach
The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy works with various sectors of society including businesses, individuals, communities, partner organizations, and government agencies to achieve its goals. CMLC uses a mix of financial incentives along with the good will of conservation minded land owners to preserve land from development.Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy has pioneered the use of conservation easements in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. A conservation easement is a way for land owners to ensure that their land remains in its natural state while capitalizing on some of the land's potential development value. CMLC also works with the North Carolina Division of State Parks and other government partners to acquire land for sites such as Chimney Rock State Park.
Chimney Rock State Park
The World's Edge Property was a 2005, $16 million joint effort between the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, along with The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive....
to save some 1500 acres (6.1 km²) of a non-contiguous property spanning across Henderson
Henderson County, North Carolina
Henderson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of the Asheville, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2008, the population was 102,367. Its county seat is Hendersonville.- History :...
, Polk
Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 20,510. Its county seat is Columbus.-History:The county was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County...
, and Rutherford
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
counties. The Worlds Edge Property, formerly owned by The Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation, contains over 20000 feet (6,096 m) of streams and waterfalls, in addition to numerous endangered salamander, bird, and bat species. In December 2009, CMLC acquired the 1527 acres (6.2 km²) Weed Patch Mountain tract north of Lake Lure, which adds to the corridor of conserved land including the State Park.
Green River Preserve
The Green River Preserve encompasses some 3895 acres (15.8 km²) of the upper Green River Watershed, the largest conservation project in terms of acreage by CMLC. The Green River area is listed under the North Carolina Natural Heritage identified natural area, significant for a diversity of habitat types including granite dome outcrops, steep cliffs, rich cove forests, Carolina hemlock bluffs, and pine-oak forests. The conservation of this area was made possible by donations from the Schenck and Ball families, with help from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.Florence Nature Preserve
The Florence Nature Preserve is a 600 acre (2.4 km2) tract located in the upper Hickory Nut Gorge area near Gerton North Carolina. Donated by Dr. Tom and Glenna Florence in two phases (1996 and 2001) the preserve is open to the general public for hiking. Trails on this preserve are maintained by the Carolina Mountain Club.Lewis Creek Nature Preserve
Lewis Creek Nature Preserve is located in Edneyville, North Carolina. The preserve is home to a 6.5 acre (0.02630459 km²) mixed Southern Appalachian Mountain Bog. This ecosystem is listed as critically endangered with only 750 acres (3 km²) of this variety of bogs and fens still in existence, an 83 percent loss from the estimated 5000 acres (20.2 km²) that once existed.CMLC purchased the property that forms Lewis Creek Nature Park in 2004 to be maintained for the use of homeowners in the adjacent neighborhood. The North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program has been contracted to conduct stream restoration on the portion of Lewis Creek running through the nature park. The finish date of this project has been delayed from the original estimation of August 2008. Due to the fragile and unique nature of the park, it is not open to the general public, but Carolina Mountain Land conservancy does hold tree planting and exotic invasive species removal work days which are.