Conserving Carolina

Land Protection Program The Land Protection Program conserves natural resources by protecting lands including water quality, endangered and threatened species, critical habitat for wildlife, important agricultural soils, scenic views, and opportunities for public recreation. During our fiscal year 21/22, Conserving Carolina protected 1283.4 acres at 12 sites in 4 counties in North Carolina, including: - 295 acres at five sites in Henderson County - 6 acres at one site in Jackson County - 47 acres at two sites in Polk County - 935 acres at four sites in Transylvania County

Education and Outreach: Conserving Carolina continues to educate the public through a variety of avenues including print and social media stories and in-person and remote educational events. Conserving Carolina also continues to encourage and facilitate public engagement with conserved and protected areas through outings, hikes, and its Hiking Challenge program, as well as regular volunteer and service learning opportunities including hosting numerous Alternative Spring Break programs. Conserving Carolina continued the administration of AmeriCorps Project Conserve, a federally sponsored program which placed AmeriCorps members with conservation nonprofits and government agencies across western North Carolina. The project engages individuals in 6- to 11-month terms of service. By promoting additional community volunteerism, Project Conserve provides over 35,000 hours of service annually to the conservation of land, water and other natural resources in the region.

Stewardship, Restoration, and Public Access: Conserving Carolina continued to steward and enforce the conservation easements it holds, while striving to bring the most current scientific land management resources to our partner landowners. Conserving Carolina also continued its management of the properties it owns by partnering with federal and state agencies, volunteers, and others to increase biological diversity, enhance wildlife habitat, and address other land management needs. Among restoration projects, Conserving Carolina installed pollinator habitat on public and private conserved properties, actively engaged in several stream and wetland restoration projects on private lands and lands that it owns, and continued to combat non- native invasive plant species throughout its service area. Conserving Carolina partnered with state and local governments to create new public parks and recreational lands and to advance greenways, multi- use paths, and trails for a multitude of user groups throughout the region by creating new opportunities for trail construction and maintaining existing trails.