For many environmental organizations across Western North Carolina, COVID-19 fell like a lightning-struck tree across the path to progress. But like an intrepid hiker, WNC’s activists and organizers have bushwhacked new trails for action in the world of the pandemic.
Less than 0.1% of all small woodlands are currently certified as responsibly managed, despite making up over 75% of all privately owned Southeast forests. The SAP pilot, a collaboration of forest product companies, the Forest Stewardship Council and Rainforest Alliance, is exploring how to bring those previously overlooked parcels into certified status.
Dogwood Alliance’s annual storytelling fundraiser takes place Sept. 27 at The Mothlight.
“People have a lot of unexpected, surprising, beautiful and heartwarming stories that happen in the forest,” says Dogwood Alliance marketing director Amanda Rodriguez. “It’s not just about acres and clean water and deforestation: It’s also about the really unique human connection that people have with forests.”
Seven regional storytellers and Papadosio side project EarthCry perform at the Dogwood Alliance event, Sept. 8 at The Grey Eagle.
In collaboration with the Sierra Club, New Alpha Community Development Corporation and Kingdom Living Temple, Dogwood Alliance is traveling across eight southern states to engage vulnerable communities and build solidarity around climate crises. Emily Zucchino with Dogwood Alliance says the event will tie the community’s poverty and gentrification issues together with the greater environmental context.
Dogwood Alliance is highlighting the synergy of spoken-word art forms — adding in plenty of music and other activities as well — at The Woods & Wilds Storytelling and Music Festival. The event takes place Sunday, Oct. 1, at Salvage Station.
Music educator Jason DeCristofaro has planned a dozen benefit concerts to support various nonprofits. The next event takes place at The BLOCK off Biltmore on Sunday, Feb. 26, and features the Richard Shulman Quartet and Dan Keller Quartet.
As Dogwood Alliance celebrates its 20th anniversary, the local organization reflects on its accomplishments influencing the wood sourcing practices of some of America’s largest corporations. Now the group is poised to take on an even larger challenge: fighting European environmental regulations that Dogwood Alliance says are paradoxically endangering Southern forests.
Nonprofits Root Cause and EcoForesters celebrated local and regional efforts to promote sustainable forest stewardship and the use of local forest products on Nov. 12. The organizations presented four awards recognizing local groups and individuals who advocate for sound forest management practices.
The new Sparklehorse documentary screens in Sylva, film historian Frank Thompson delves into the works of John Ford and the 2016 Asheville 48 Hour Film Project winners are announced.
“Sourcing this energy from the Southeast is putting some of the world’s most biodiverse and precious forests at severe risk.”
