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LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE UNDERWAY WITH NEW CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
INCREASED RESOURCES CRITICAL FOR MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION

Western North Carolina conservation organizations gear up for a vital time in land protection with the hire of a new leader in fundraising. Asheville resident Phyllis Stiles started this month as the Campaign Director of Blue Ridge Forever, an initiative spearheaded by 13 land conservation organizations.

Stiles will assist the partners in raising increased awareness and resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge. With this staff addition, the organizations hope to be in a better position to safeguard clean drinking water, wildlife, farms and scenic landscapes, each critical to the state's economy.

“Our western North Carolina mountains have been a refuge for millions of lowland visitors for generations — a place to feel at home and be restored,” Stiles said. “This region is counting on those of us who live and visit here today to preserve its exceptional landscapes. I am honored to be a part of the Blue Ridge Forever team.”

The five-year goal of the campaign is to protect 50,000 acres by 2010, and the coalition is well on its way to meeting that goal. In the face of skyrocketing land values, spreading unchecked development, and more and more families selling large farms, mountain conservation organizations are in a race against time. The partners aim to achieve more protection by working together.

Phyllis came to the Partnership from Mars Hill College in North Carolina where she was the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and has more than 15 years experience in fundraising.

“Phyllis has an immense passion for conservation and a contagious energy to do good work,” said Teresa Buckwalter, Executive Director of High Country Conservancy. “ She will lead the partners of Blue Ridge Forever to tap new funding sources to protect the Southern Blue Ridge in this critical decade of land conservation.”

James Coman, Executive Director of Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust, said that interest in farmland protection has at least doubled over the past fifteen years. “In the early 1990's we would have only one or two inquiries per week about conservation options, while today we have at least three inquiries per week,” Coman said. “The pressure on farmers and other landowners to convert land to other uses is greater than ever before. The landscape of North Carolina will be forever changed this decade if we do not use the tools we have to protect it.”

Many conservation professionals in North Carolina view this decade as the last chance to protect large tracts of undeveloped land, critical to maintaining wildlife habitat, scenic views and water quality. Developed land has increased 77 percent in Western North Carolina in the last two decades. The region's population continues to soar with three million more people living in North Carolina than in 1970, and the mountains are predicted to lose another 490,400 acres of forests, farms and stream banks by 2022 — a size almost as large as Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"It's important that conservation organizations coordinate our efforts to protect our irreplaceable western NC landscapes — it's what our supporters expect,” said George Santucci, Executive Director of the National Committee for the New River. “We're looking forward to working together on this campaign.”







	LAND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE UNDERWAY WITH NEW CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR INCREASED RESOURCES CRITICAL FOR MOUNTAIN PRESERVATION Western North Carolina conservation organizations gear up for a vital time in land protection with the hire of a new leader in fundraising. Asheville resident Phyllis Stiles started this month as the Campaign Director of Blue Ridge Forever, an initiative spearheaded by 13 land conservation organizations. Stiles will assist the partners in raising increased awareness and resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge. With this staff addition, the organizations hope to be in a better position to safeguard clean drinking water, wildlife, farms and scenic landscapes, each critical to the state's economy. “Our western North Carolina mountains have been a refuge for millions of lowland visitors for generations — a place to feel at home and be restored,” Stiles said. “This region is counting on those of us who live and visit here today to preserve its exceptional landscapes. I am honored to be a part of the Blue Ridge Forever team.” The five-year goal of the campaign is to protect 50,000 acres by 2010, and the coalition is well on its way to meeting that goal. In the face of skyrocketing land values, spreading unchecked development, and more and more families selling large farms, mountain conservation organizations are in a race against time. The partners aim to achieve more protection by working together. Phyllis came to the Partnership from Mars Hill College in North Carolina where she was the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations and has more than 15 years experience in fundraising. “Phyllis has an immense passion for conservation and a contagious energy to do good work,” said Teresa Buckwalter, Executive Director of High Country Conservancy. “ She will lead the partners of Blue Ridge Forever to tap new funding sources to protect the Southern Blue Ridge in this critical decade of land conservation.” James Coman, Executive Director of Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust, said that interest in farmland protection has at least doubled over the past fifteen years. “In the early 1990's we would have only one or two inquiries per week about conservation options, while today we have at least three inquiries per week,” Coman said. “The pressure on farmers and other landowners to convert land to other uses is greater than ever before. The landscape of North Carolina will be forever changed this decade if we do not use the tools we have to protect it.” Many conservation professionals in North Carolina view this decade as the last chance to protect large tracts of undeveloped land, critical to maintaining wildlife habitat, scenic views and water quality. Developed land has increased 77 percent in Western North Carolina in the last two decades. The region's population continues to soar with three million more people living in North Carolina than in 1970, and the mountains are predicted to lose another 490,400 acres of forests, farms and stream banks by 2022 — a size almost as large as Great Smoky Mountains National Park. "It's important that conservation organizations coordinate our efforts to protect our irreplaceable western NC landscapes — it's what our supporters expect,” said George Santucci, Executive Director of the National Committee for the New River. “We're looking forward to working together on this campaign.”