Conservation and Recreation Coalition Announces Recommendations for Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests

(SYLVA, NC)—A coalition of conservation and recreation organizations recommends more trails and better public access as well as backcountry and wild areas for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) developed by the coalition. The coalition is submitting the MOU to the U.S. Forest Service as part of the ongoing forest plan revision process for the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests.

The coalition includes Access Fund, American Alpine Club, American Whitewater, Back Country Horsemen of America, Back Country Horsemen of Blue Ridge, Back Country Horsemen of North Carolina, Back Country Horsemen of Pisgah, Back Country Horsemen of Western North Carolina, Black Dome Mountain Sports, Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, Carolina Adventure Guides, Carolina Climbers Coalition, Franklin Bird Club, Friends of Big Ivy, Ground Up Publishing, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Highlands Plateau Audubon Society, Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition, International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), MountainTrue, Nantahala Area Southern Off-Road Biking Association (SORBA), Nantahala Hiking Club, North Carolina Horse Council, Northwest North Carolina Mountain Bike Alliance, Outdoor 76, Outdoor Alliance, Pisgah Area SORBA, Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventures, Southern Appalachian Plant Society, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS), Stay and Play in the Smokies, The Wilderness Society, Trout Unlimited – Unaka Chapter, and Wild South.

The idea driving the coalition is simple: Western North Carolina’s national forests are the region’s greatest public asset, and should be protected for their inherent beauty, biodiversity, and their many values. Recognizing that Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest is in the top three most visited national forests in the United States, the proposal acknowledges the economic importance of these forests for recreation and tourism, and recommends management of these assets in a responsible manner that is both environmentally and economically sound. The management and designations proposed by the coalition extend stronger protections to more than 365,000 of the national forest’s nearly 1.1 million acres including two new National Recreation Areas and more than 109,000 acres of recommended wilderness.

Key recommendations within the proposal:

Two new National Recreation Areas for Western North Carolina: a 115,573-acre Pisgah National Recreation Area and a 57,400-acre Grandfather National Recreation Area that will protect these areas from resource extraction and ensure that their unique natural beauty and ecological diversity are maintained for future generations, while recreation use such as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, kayaking, and climbing is planned and managed for as a long-term priority. National Recreation Areas will formalize recreation access in key points of our forests, and would allow for the establishment of sustainable infrastructure to prevent damage to the areas while preserving recreational opportunities.
Wilderness protection for 109,961 acres in the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests. Hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and hiking are among the many activities that would be welcomed in these areas. While the Forest Service can recommend wilderness, it would have to be approved by Congressional legislation and signed into law by the president.

Those who support the recommendations put forth in the MOU can help by providing public comments to the Forest Service that both endorses a plan that provides more public access and recreation, and protects more of our backcountry and wild places.

Comments can be submitted via email at NCPlanRevision@fs.fed.us or via mail at United States Forest Service Supervisor’s Office, 160 Zillicoa St, Suite A, Asheville, NC 28801.

For more information, contact:

Brent Martin, The Wilderness Society – Southern Appalachian Regional Director
(828) 587-9453 • brent_martin@tws.org

Josh Kelly, MountainTrue – Public Lands Field Biologist
828.258.8737 x 210 • josh@mountaintrue.org

Read Full Text of the MOU

Download PDF

11/12: Hendersonville Green Drinks on the Threats to Our National Forests

11/12 Hendersonville Green Drinks: Mountain True’s Josh Kelly on the Threats to Our National Forests

HENDERSONVILLE, NC — MountainTrue Public Lands Field Biologist Josh Kelly is the featured presenter for the next Hendersonville Green Drinks on Thursday, November 12, from 6–8 p.m. at The Taproom at Monte’s, 2024 Asheville Hwy in Hendersonville.

WHAT: Hendersonville Green Drinks, hosted by MountainTrue
WHO: Josh Kelly, MountainTrue Field Biologist
WHEN: November 12, from 6-8pm
WHERE: The Taproom at Monte’s, 2024 Asheville Hwy in Hendersonville

Kelly’s presentation, entitled Threats to Our National Forests, Here and Across the Nation, will focus on budgetary and legislative threats to National Forests including attempts to privatize federal lands, the potential death of the Land & Water Conservation Fund, and fire borrowing. Kelly will also give an update on the revision of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest’s management plan and provide attendees with proactive ways to get involved in protecting public land.

Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues, have relevant discussions, and meet up with like-minded people. Everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks, just come and listen. The Taproom at Monte’s has a good selection of beers as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Monte’s also has great subs if you’re hungry. For more information about Hendersonville’s Green Drinks, contact Mark Stierwalt, Southern Regional Director for MountainTrue at (828) 692-0385 ext. 1004, or Mark@mountaintrue.org.

11/9 & 11/16: Forest Service Public Meetings

As part of the Forest Planning process for the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests, the Forest Service has evaluated lands, rivers and streams that could be eligible for protection as Wilderness areas or as Wild and Scenic Rivers. If approved, this could:

Keep logging, road-building and mining out of 364,000 acres of backcountry and our most special wild places.
Designate 53 pristine waterways as Wild and Scenic Rivers. This is the strongest form of protection for these rivers. Eligibility would create 1/4-mile buffers to maintain the outstanding quality of rivers and prevent dams from being built on these waterways.

In addition to attending the meetings, click here to submit your comments TODAY!

Attend one of the Forest Service’s public meetings:

November 9, 2015, 6-8pm
Tartan Hall, 26 Church St.
Franklin, NC 28734

November 16, 2015, 6-8pm
2015 Mountain View Room,Kimmel Arena
University of NC Asheville
1 University Heights
Asheville, NC 28801

2nd Saturdays: Richmond Hill Park invasive plant removal work days

Join us and help restore native plant communities by controlling non-native invasive plants at Richmond Hill Park. This is the City of Asheville’s only forested park and is home to many special native plant and animal species!

We’ll provide all gloves, equipment and instruction needed. Please bring snacks, water, rain jacket and wear long pants, long sleeve shirt and closed toe shoes (no open shoes or sandals allowed for safety).

Dates:

May 9

June 13

July 11

August 8

September 12

October 10

~~November 14~~ (Canceled)

December 12

Rain Dates: 2nd Sundays

Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Location: Richmond Hill Park, Asheville, NC

Cost: Free; Thank you for you help!

Click HERE to RSVP so we know you’re coming!

May 2: Fire Ecology Outdoor Seminar & Hike

Learn from MountainTrue’s Public Lands Biologist Josh Kelly about fire ecology in the Blue Ridge Mountains!

When: Saturday, May 2 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Singcat Ridge; to carpool from Asheville, meet at the Westgate Shopping Center at 8:45 a.m. Participants may meet us instead in the parking area at the intersection of N.C. Hwy 80 and the Blue Ridge Parkway at 10 a.m.

What to expect: This all-day outdoor seminar will include a moderate to difficult hike with stops throughout during which we will discuss fire effects on vegetation, wildlife responses to fire, fire ignition types, fuel, and behavior.

What to bring: Participants should wear sturdy hiking and bring rain gear, lunch, and water.

FREE! All are welcome!

Click HERE to Register

April 5-11: 4th Annual Invasive Species Awareness Week

In April, many invasive plants are beginning to bloom and people will more easily be able to identify and take steps to control invasive plants. In addition, many people will be choosing landscaping plants for their yards.

North Carolina Invasive Plant Council hosts Invasives Species Awareness Week in April with the aim of reaching a greater number of people and more effectively raise awareness of invasive plants and animals in our state during the time of year when people are spending more time outside.

Since 2002, MountainTrue has addressed the challenge of non-native invasive plants in the mountain counties of North Carolina. Introduced both accidentally and intentionally (for erosion control, livestock forage, and landscaping), these invasive species escaped from developed communities and have become naturalized in the wild. Without the predators and competitors these plants have evolved with, they are given the opportunity to flourish, usually at the expense of our native plant communities.

Many non-native invasive plants have faster growth rates and higher seed yields than native plants, and the competition for soil resources, light, and area is intense. Also, a number of these species are highly efficient in transporting their seeds and expanding their root systems.It’s important to identify and manage heavy invasions to protect the great biodiversity we enjoy in Western North Carolina.

The goal of Invasive Species Awareness Week is to educate the public about the problems caused by invasive plant species. To get involved and learn more you can:

— Choose native or non-invasive plants for your yard and garden.
— Learn more about invasive plants and how to identify them.
— Get involved by attending an educational workshop in your area.
— Attend a weed pulling workday.

A great online resource for the identification of non-native invasive plants in the southeast is provided by the U.S. Forest Service and can be found by clicking here.

Controlling, and ultimately eliminating, non-native invasive plants from a site is a multi-phase process of monitoring and management. All of these project sites will need to be revisited periodically to ensure that invasions do not become reestablished.

Every bit of help we get from volunteers makes a dent in the advancing wall of non-native invasive plants that threatens our native local diversity.

Click here to volunteer with MountainTrue today!

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NEW MATCHING GRANT OPPORTUNITY!

Thanks to some very generous patrons, we have been given a $10,000 matching grant for our esteemed Invasive Species Program. This means your contribution will be matched dollar for dollar for a limited time. This is an amazing opportunity to DOUBLE YOUR DONATION so please take a moment and help us achieve this goal by contributing today! Donate HERE!

Click HERE to download our new, wallet-sized Do Not Buy Guide to help stop the spread of invasive species at the source! This guide tells you which WNC invasive plants to avoid purchasing and the native alternatives you can use instead. Just print it out, fold it up and keep it with you when you go to your local nursery to get your fall and spring plantings!