A graphic analysis of the biodiversity from the South Mountains to Blue Ridge corridor based on a landscape survey conducted by Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and Durham-based consulting firm Unique Places earned a third place award at the NatureServe Biodiversity Without Boundaries 2015 Conference’s poster contest. One map included in the poster (pictured above) depicts several areas east of Asheville as having high conservation value (green and yellow shades).
“The study and analysis for the poster display revealed the importance of quality conservation land corridors for biodiversity and species migration between the South Mountains and the southern Blue Ridge Mountains Escarpment,” reads a release from Foothills Conservancy. “North Carolina’s Blue Ridge and Piedmont regions contain many important areas for intermingling of plant and animals species, and maintaining forest blocks and corridors to enable this intermingling to continue is imperative to the future of biodiversity in the region.”
Here is the full release from Foothills Conservancy:
Morganton, NC – The Southern Appalachian region is again receiving national attention, as a graphic analysis of the South Mountains to Blue Ridge corridor took third place at a national conservation conference.
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and Durham-based real estate consulting and strategic planning firm Unique Places LLC teamed up to submit the poster for the NatureServe Biodiversity Without Boundaries 2015 Conference poster session and contest.
The display, titled “South Mountains to Blue Ridge Landscape Connector Analysis,” was the result of a landscape study, analysis and mapping project in the foothills area of Western North Carolina, carried out by Foothills Conservancy and Unique Places.
“It is wonderful to see this project and this unique region recognized by the national conservation community,” says Tom Kenney, the conservancy’s land protection director, “especially on the heels of the new 2015 National Academy of Sciences study that identifies the middle to southern Blue Ridge Mountains, including the South Mountains, as number one in the nation for conservation expansion. We hope this will help increase awareness and support for conserving the amazing biodiversity that exists here.”
The study and analysis for the poster display revealed the importance of quality conservation land corridors for biodiversity and species migration between the South Mountains and the southern Blue Ridge Mountains Escarpment. North Carolina’s Blue Ridge and Piedmont regions contain many important areas for intermingling of plant and animals species, and maintaining forest blocks and corridors to enable this intermingling to continue is imperative to the future of biodiversity in the region.
Michael Scisco, Chief Strategy Officer with Unique Places, was lead on GIS and mapping for the project. He says of the collaboration, “Working with Foothills Conservancy to conduct the conservation analysis and produce the South Mountain to Blue Ridge Corridor atlas and poster was a fulfilling experience for our Unique Places team. We value our nonprofit partners and understand the importance of their work in the community. Our goal is to help our partners succeed at meeting that mission.”
The annual Biodiversity Without Boundaries conference, hosted by the NatureServe network brings together some of the world’s greatest minds in conservation science to celebrate successes, collaborate on new initiatives, share innovations and design the future. Dozens of interactive workshops, symposiums, and panels comprise the heart of the agenda, sessions that tackle the most pressing topics facing conservation science today—as well as those approaching fast over the horizon. Awards in conservation science are also given out during the conference.
About Foothills Conservancy:
Foothills Conservancy, a Morganton-based non-profit land trust, works cooperatively with landowners and community partners to permanently preserve and protect important natural areas, watersheds, forests and farmlands in eight Blue Ridge Mountain and foothills counties and in the upper basins of the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin rivers. Since 1995, it has protected more than 48,000 acres, expanding state parks at South Mountains, Chimney Rock and Lake James; state game lands at the Linville Gorge, Johns River, National Wild & Scenic Wilson Creek and the South Mountains; Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Parkway. The land trust has also helped landowners protect thousands of acres of private farm and forest lands with permanent, private conservation agreements and maintains four conservancy-owned preserves. Learn more about Foothills Conservancy and how you can help support its efforts at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.