From the Appalachian Trail to the Albemarle Pamlico Estuary, North Carolina's rich natural resources beckon wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Here, the Fund and its partners have worked closely with local communities to integrate conservation, sustainable economic development, and social justice principals to preserve more than 200,000 acres.

Recent Projects

Pisgah National Forest

Rushing waterfalls and melodious birdcalls lift the deep quiet of Pisgah National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains. In 2009, we conserved 754 acres within the forest, preserving rare vegetation and expanding hikers’ access to Raquette Creek’s popular trails and waterfalls. Previously, we worked with the USDA Forest Service, the State of North Carolina, the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, and the Boy Scouts of America to protect 4,400-acre Lake Logan from further development. Protecting Lake Logan not only added to the national forest and the adjacent Shining Rock Wilderness Area, which was acquired from Champion International and was valued in excess of $10 million, but it safeguards important wildlife habitat and water resources that serve the local communities.

Past Projects

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Conservation Fund joined with North Carolina State Parks to secure a conservation easement over 332 acres along four miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Now part of the state’s Mountain to Sea Trail, the property’s scenic forested ridge tops are protected from development.

Lower Cape Fear

As a conservation gift to the nation, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company protected more than 1,200 acres along the Lower Cape Fear River through a conservation easement donated to the Fund. A pristine 250-acre island and vital habitat for migratory waterfowl and American alligator are now preserved forever. The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust ultimately will manage the easement.

Read about the following projects in detail: