Resilient Forests
MountainTrue engages communities in safeguarding the treasures of our public lands, including wildlife, old growth forests and rare ecosystems. We believe the management of these lands should maintain and restore their ecological integrity and promote recreational opportunities.
Seasonal Hikes
MountainTrue hosts four guided seasonal hikes in our WNC mountains to see some of the best views and natural habitats in the area.
- Spring Wildflower Hike
- Summer Monarch Butterfly Hike
- Fall Foliage Hike
- Winter Wonderland Hike
Contact Susan Bean at susan@mountaintrue.org if you are interested in our hikes.
Our Forest Work
Public Lands Protection, Policy and Planning
MountainTrue advocates for the protection of our national and state forests in addition to our national, state, county and city parks as a part of WNC public lands. We work collaboratively with stakeholders from the conservation, recreation and commercial sectors to ensure sustainable management of our public lands.
Protecting Our Forests
Invasive Species Removal
Native species in our region are being pushed out by non-native invasive species throughout WNC public and private lands. MountainTrue through partnerships with local conservation organizations and governmental departments has carried out numerous non-native invasive species control projects to help restore native species to the region.
Forest Keepers
MountainTrue’s volunteer base of Forest Keepers works to keep WNC forests and public lands protected and healthy. The Forest Keepers’ work begins at the intersection of environmental science and environmental stewardship. This group collaborates with other non-profits in North Carolina to promote active stewardship in protecting, managing and maintaining the forest of Southern Appalachia.
Become a Forest Keeper
Want to protect WNC forests? The Forest Keepers are an active part of MountainTrue’s forest stewardship and help to keep our public lands safe and strong. Join us!
Forest News
MountainTrue and Mainspring to Host Blackrock BioBlitz at Pinnacle Park in Sylva
On June 2, MountainTrue and Mainspring Conservation Trust will sponsor the Blackrock BioBlitz, a citizen-science program that will pair residents with more than a dozen expert naturalists to document the diverse natural communities of Sylva’s Pinnacle Park and its highest point, Blackrock Mountain.
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Series of Expert Panels to Discuss Future of Nantahala & Pisgah National Forests in Sylva, Boone, Brevard and Andrews this March
Experts representing a diverse group of conservation, recreation and business interests will take part in a series of special panel events on the future of the Nantahala-Pisgah National Forests this March. The panels, which will be held in Sylva, Boone, Brevard, and Andrews, will present visions for a win-win forest management plan that allows all interests to co-exist and thrive in Western North Carolina’s national forests.
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Deciding the Next 15 Years for Western NC’s Forests: The Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan
Everyone who loves Western NC’s national forests has an issue they care about in the forest management plan expected to be released this year. So how do we find common ground and make a plan that works for all of us? Find out what the forest management plan is and why it matters for our region, and don’t miss our forest panel events this March in Sylva, Boone, Brevard and Andrews.
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MountainTrue Defends Old-Growth Forest in Jackson County
Because old-growth trees like those in the Mossy Oak Project are so rare, so ecologically valuable and take hundreds of years to form, MountainTrue believes that existing old growth on public land should be protected from logging. That’s where we come in. Our Public Lands staff reviews all timber projects in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests for the presence of old growth.
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