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MOUNTAIN LAND TRUSTS PROTECT 10,257 ACRES IN 2009
In Final Year, Coalition Hopeful to Reach Campaign Goal

Release Date: February 8, 2010
Contacts:
Phyllis Stiles, Blue Ridge Forever, 828.253.0095 x212

Asheville - Despite the challenges posed by the current economic climate, North Carolina's mountain land trusts project that they will protect 50,000 acres by the end of 2010--the goal set by the Blue Ridge Forever Coalition. In 2009, the 10 land trusts that comprise the coalition protected 10,257 acres in Western North Carolina., the equivalent of 7,770 football fields.

As they head into the final year of the campaign, the coalition members have protected 329 properties, to total 45,125 acres. They credit the landowners with whom they have worked with during this campaign for much of their success. At least seventy-five percent of these landowners donated a portion or in some cases all of the value of the property.

"The physical and economic landscapes have changed over the course of this campaign, but the generosity of individuals who have donated land or given financial support has been a constant in helping protect many of the places we all love," said Phyllis Stiles, campaign director for Blue Ridge Forever.

Land trusts permanently protect land with high conservation values, such as clean drinking water, wildlife, scenic vistas and working local farms. They work with willing landowners, public agencies, and private and public funders either to negotiate conservation agreements or to buy land in order to protect it forever.

By working together through the Blue Ridge Forever coalition, mountain land trusts have made the best use of their resources and expertise in the face of continuing limits on public funding. Blue Ridge Forever’s Conservation Vision has helped the land trusts focus their conservation priorities for private and public partners, and for their own long-range planning.

"The downturn in the economy has been a blessing and curse for the land trusts," said Stiles. "There are important tracts that we could not have dreamed of being able to afford at the start of our campaign in 2006 that we are now have protected forever. As we stretch to protect our final 4,954 acres we hope that more people will lend their support, not merely to help us reach a number, but to help themselves by protecting North Carolina’s critical natural resources – clean drinking water, parks and trails, beloved mountain vistas, and working forests and farms."

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Blue Ridge Forever is a coalition campaign led by mountain land trusts and national conservation organizations to raise public awareness and financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. The coalition works in local communities to ensure that critical lands are protected for clean drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitats, tourism, and working farms. To learn more, visit 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







	MOUNTAIN LAND TRUSTS PROTECT 10,257 ACRES IN 2009 In Final Year, Coalition Hopeful to Reach Campaign Goal Release Date: February 8, 2010 Contacts: Phyllis Stiles, Blue Ridge Forever, 828.253.0095 x212 Asheville - Despite the challenges posed by the current economic climate, North Carolina's mountain land trusts project that they will protect 50,000 acres by the end of 2010--the goal set by the Blue Ridge Forever Coalition. In 2009, the 10 land trusts that comprise the coalition protected 10,257 acres in Western North Carolina., the equivalent of 7,770 football fields. As they head into the final year of the campaign, the coalition members have protected 329 properties, to total 45,125 acres. They credit the landowners with whom they have worked with during this campaign for much of their success. At least seventy-five percent of these landowners donated a portion or in some cases all of the value of the property. "The physical and economic landscapes have changed over the course of this campaign, but the generosity of individuals who have donated land or given financial support has been a constant in helping protect many of the places we all love," said Phyllis Stiles, campaign director for Blue Ridge Forever. Land trusts permanently protect land with high conservation values, such as clean drinking water, wildlife, scenic vistas and working local farms. They work with willing landowners, public agencies, and private and public funders either to negotiate conservation agreements or to buy land in order to protect it forever. By working together through the Blue Ridge Forever coalition, mountain land trusts have made the best use of their resources and expertise in the face of continuing limits on public funding. Blue Ridge Forever’s Conservation Vision has helped the land trusts focus their conservation priorities for private and public partners, and for their own long-range planning. "The downturn in the economy has been a blessing and curse for the land trusts," said Stiles. "There are important tracts that we could not have dreamed of being able to afford at the start of our campaign in 2006 that we are now have protected forever. As we stretch to protect our final 4,954 acres we hope that more people will lend their support, not merely to help us reach a number, but to help themselves by protecting North Carolina’s critical natural resources – clean drinking water, parks and trails, beloved mountain vistas, and working forests and farms." ### Blue Ridge Forever is a coalition campaign led by mountain land trusts and national conservation organizations to raise public awareness and financial resources to safeguard land and water in the Southern Blue Ridge for present and future generations. The coalition works in local communities to ensure that critical lands are protected for clean drinking water, recreation, wildlife habitats, tourism, and working farms. To learn more, visit 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