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WAL-MART FOUNDATION GRANTS $50,000 TO LAND CONSERVATION IN WNC
Fairview Farmers Benefit From Grant

Release Date: June 4, 2009
Contacts: Valerie True, Blue Ridge Forever, 828.253.0095 x213

Asheville -- In an effort to support land preservation throughout Western North Carolina, the Wal-Mart Foundation has donated $50,000 to the Blue Ridge Forever coalition of ten mountain land trusts. The grant’s primary focus is to help farmers and other landowners to protect their land through conservation agreements.

"Many of the landowners we work with are the third, fourth or even eighth generation to steward their land," said Carl Silverstein, executive director of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. "We are thankful to Wal-Mart for helping fulfill the landowners’ wishes to protect their property in perpetuity."

Conservation agreements between local land trusts, such as Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, and landowners limit future development on a property, while keeping the land in private ownership. The landowner may receive tax breaks or financial compensation for giving up their right to ever develop their property. While each conservation agreement is tailored to the property concerned, easements on farms and working forests permit these agricultural activities to continue.

Western North Carolina is a national leader in farmland loss. The Fairview farming community in eastern Buncombe County is a remnant of the agricultural landscape that used to dominate the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Prime soils, working innovative farms, sustainable agriculture, and a rich agricultural history define this area. Wal-Mart’s grant, combined with other public and private gifts, will fund two conservation agreements in Fairview, the Clarke and the Spicer tracts.

Like so many farming families, the Clarke family has divided the original parcel among siblings and cousins. Now the family is placing much of their property into a conservation easement with the help of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Annie Louise Perkinson, granddaughter of Jamie Clarke, and her husband Isaiah operate Flying Cloud Farm on a portion of the land being protected.

"I am so pleased that our family has decided to conserve the land," stated Ms. Perkinson. "As our business grows and we make more investments on the farm, it’s comforting knowing that we can continue to farm this land for many years to come."

Alma Spicer’s 241-acre property has been in her family since 1877. At age 90 she and her family have decided to put 30 acres of tree farm and 140 acres of forested land in a conservation easement with the help of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy.

"The family’s conservation of the land is in honor of my mother’s wish to keep the land in the family and to respect the sacrifice my grandfather made to acquire the land," said Mrs. Spicer.

"I am grateful to Wal-Mart for providing grant funding to preserve working farms and forests in North Carolina," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "Unfortunately, our state is losing an estimated 125,000 acres of productive crop and forest land each year. Partnerships between local land trusts and corporate sponsors such as Wal-Mart can help us make great strides in reducing this rate of loss."

"Farm and forest lands are the essential building blocks of our $71 billion agribusiness industry," Troxler said. "We simply must preserve family farms in order to secure a prosperous future for the next generation of North Carolinians."

The Wal-Mart Foundation made more than $7 million in grants throughout North Carolina in 2008. The $50,000 grant to Blue Ridge Forever is one of Wal-Mart's largest in the state of North Carolina in 2009.

"Facilitating farmland preservation is a brilliant initiative and Wal-Mart is proud to help support such an exciting and important conservation effort," said Chris Neeley, Chairman of the NC Wal-Mart Foundation State Giving Council.

Wal-Mart’s check presentation precedes Land Trust Day on June 6. Local businesses will be donating a portion of their proceeds to local land trusts in celebration of this annual event.

# # #

Blue Ridge Forever is a collective campaign led by local land trusts and national conservation organizations to engage the public and raise financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. For more information, see www.blueridgeforever.info.

BLUE RIDGE FOREVER COALITION
Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, High Country Conservancy, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, National Committee for the New River, Pacolet Area Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
Advisors: The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy - North Carolina Chapter, The Trust for Public Land







	WAL-MART FOUNDATION GRANTS $50,000 TO LAND CONSERVATION IN WNC Fairview Farmers Benefit From Grant Release Date: June 4, 2009 Contacts: Valerie True, Blue Ridge Forever, 828.253.0095 x213 Asheville -- In an effort to support land preservation throughout Western North Carolina, the Wal-Mart Foundation has donated $50,000 to the Blue Ridge Forever coalition of ten mountain land trusts. The grant’s primary focus is to help farmers and other landowners to protect their land through conservation agreements. "Many of the landowners we work with are the third, fourth or even eighth generation to steward their land," said Carl Silverstein, executive director of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. "We are thankful to Wal-Mart for helping fulfill the landowners’ wishes to protect their property in perpetuity." Conservation agreements between local land trusts, such as Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy and Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, and landowners limit future development on a property, while keeping the land in private ownership. The landowner may receive tax breaks or financial compensation for giving up their right to ever develop their property. While each conservation agreement is tailored to the property concerned, easements on farms and working forests permit these agricultural activities to continue. Western North Carolina is a national leader in farmland loss. The Fairview farming community in eastern Buncombe County is a remnant of the agricultural landscape that used to dominate the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Prime soils, working innovative farms, sustainable agriculture, and a rich agricultural history define this area. Wal-Mart’s grant, combined with other public and private gifts, will fund two conservation agreements in Fairview, the Clarke and the Spicer tracts. Like so many farming families, the Clarke family has divided the original parcel among siblings and cousins. Now the family is placing much of their property into a conservation easement with the help of Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Annie Louise Perkinson, granddaughter of Jamie Clarke, and her husband Isaiah operate Flying Cloud Farm on a portion of the land being protected. "I am so pleased that our family has decided to conserve the land," stated Ms. Perkinson. "As our business grows and we make more investments on the farm, it’s comforting knowing that we can continue to farm this land for many years to come." Alma Spicer’s 241-acre property has been in her family since 1877. At age 90 she and her family have decided to put 30 acres of tree farm and 140 acres of forested land in a conservation easement with the help of Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy. "The family’s conservation of the land is in honor of my mother’s wish to keep the land in the family and to respect the sacrifice my grandfather made to acquire the land," said Mrs. Spicer. "I am grateful to Wal-Mart for providing grant funding to preserve working farms and forests in North Carolina," said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. "Unfortunately, our state is losing an estimated 125,000 acres of productive crop and forest land each year. Partnerships between local land trusts and corporate sponsors such as Wal-Mart can help us make great strides in reducing this rate of loss." "Farm and forest lands are the essential building blocks of our $71 billion agribusiness industry," Troxler said. "We simply must preserve family farms in order to secure a prosperous future for the next generation of North Carolinians." The Wal-Mart Foundation made more than $7 million in grants throughout North Carolina in 2008. The $50,000 grant to Blue Ridge Forever is one of Wal-Mart's largest in the state of North Carolina in 2009. "Facilitating farmland preservation is a brilliant initiative and Wal-Mart is proud to help support such an exciting and important conservation effort," said Chris Neeley, Chairman of the NC Wal-Mart Foundation State Giving Council. Wal-Mart’s check presentation precedes Land Trust Day on June 6. Local businesses will be donating a portion of their proceeds to local land trusts in celebration of this annual event. # # # Blue Ridge Forever is a collective campaign led by local land trusts and national conservation organizations to engage the public and raise financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. For more information, see www.blueridgeforever.info. BLUE RIDGE FOREVER COALITION Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, High Country Conservancy, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, National Committee for the New River, Pacolet Area Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy Advisors: The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy - North Carolina Chapter, The Trust for Public Land