The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) recently purchased 76 acres just one half mile from Carvers Gap, a popular access point for the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the grassy balds of the Highlands of Roan. SAHC acquired the tract to preserve it and protect scenic views from multiple vantage points along the AT. This tract has been a priority for SAHC for over 40 years, and we are thrilled to be able to conserve it, said Carl Silverstein, SAHCs executive director. It was the last privately owned tract before you get to Carvers Gap, and because of its location and frontage on NC Highway 261, it was at high risk for development. We are so pleased that the landowners chose to sell to SAHC so that the land - and hiking experiences along the AT - will be preserved for the future. During the summer of 2013, over 3,500 people visited the grassy balds in the Roan by accessing the Trail via Carvers Gap. The recently protected, bowl-shaped property is highly visible from the AT at Jane Bald and Round Bald, lies approximately 900 feet south of the Trail at Engine Gap, and is surrounded by Pisgah National Forest. Protecting this highly visible property supports the ecotourism that brings so many people to the communities surrounding the Appalachian Trail in the Roan, added Silverstein. The natural features on the property include globally significant resources whose protection is valued by federal, state and private partners throughout the region. The tract is part of the Roan Mountain Massif Natural Area, which contains one of the most outstanding clusters of rare species and natural communities in the Southern Appalachians, and lies within the Audubon Societys Roan Mountain Important Bird Area. Clean headwater sources and trout streams run through the tract. Carvers Gap Creek, classified as Trout waters and High Quality Waters by the NC Division of Water Quality, originates on the property and flows along its western boundary. Portions of the tract have also been historically farmed, used for raising Black Angus cattle and, more recently, Christmas trees. Funding for this conservation project was provided by grants from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, and private donors, as well as loan funds from a local philanthropist. About Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Founded in 1974 by passionate Appalachian Trail hikers and conservationists concerned about the globally imperiled Highlands of Roan, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has protected 63,000+ acres over the past 40 years. SAHCs mission is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, farmland and scenic beauty of the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee for the benefit of present and future generations. For more information, visit appalachian.org .
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 18:04:44 +0000
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