| | | Massive Victory for Forest Protection in the Blue Ridge Mountains
The southern Blue Ridge Mountains between Virginia and Georgia contain some of the most biologically diverse landscapes in the temperate world. Now, through a complex series of transactions, nearly 4,500 acres of intact forest in North Carolina have been permanently saved. A highly effective partnership between the Open Space Institute (OSI) and the local Mainspring Conservation Trust targeted a patchwork of 17 parcels for protection -- connecting more than 1.65 million acres of ecologically rich public lands and establishing long-desired links to nearby recreational spots like the Appalachian Trail. “This rugged and beautiful landscape perfectly demonstrates ‘how’ and ‘why’ OSI is showing up in the southern Appalachian region,” said Dr. Maria Whitehead, OSI’s Senior Vice President of Land. “The environmental health of this region ultimately affects the entire nation, and it's up to all of us to protect it.” |
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| | | | Land with History of Inclusivity Saved in the Shawangunks
OSI has protected the 440-acre Mt. Cathalia property in Ulster County, New York—a nature-lovers’ paradise with a history of inclusivity: Under the Tso family's ownership following WWII, the site and hotel served as a welcoming retreat for Chinese Americans and others excluded from local resorts. The land will ultimately become part of Minnewaska State Park Preserve, creating new public access while preserving Mt. Cathalia’s legacy as an outdoor refuge for all. |
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| | | | More Protected Land to Explore in South Carolina
People and nature are getting more space to thrive in South Carolina. OSI has protected nearly 600 acres along the South Carolina/North Carolina border for a major expansion of Kings Mountain State Park. The newly protected land is located within 45 minutes of Charlotte, one of the nation’s fastest-growing metro areas. Once transferred to South Carolina State Parks, the land will give people more space to hike, fish, paddle, watch wildlife, and unwind, while connecting a larger undeveloped landscape for the benefit of wildlife and clean water. |
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| | | | Sweeping Success: Saving Maine's Wild Landscapes
In western Maine, more than 78,000 acres of forest, waterways, and wildlife habitat are now permanently protected, thanks to a collaborative effort supported by OSI’s Appalachian Landscapes Project. The Magalloway project has safeguarded working forests, expanded access to outdoor recreation, and strengthened habitat connectivity across the northern Appalachian Mountain Region. |
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| | | | Wins for Wildlife and Clean Water at Trout Creek
As temperatures rise and weather becomes more extreme, plants and animals need diverse microhabitats and mixed elevations to adapt and thrive. Offering a rich mix of topography, forests, streams, and climate-resilient microclimates, nearly 1,000 acres of remarkable southern Appalachian wilderness in western North Carolina were recently conserved by OSI and the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust. Previously slated for intensive development, this flourishing landscape and its vital natural benefits are now preserved in perpetuity. |
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| | | | Expanding a Tennessee State Park
Tennessee’s Head of the Crow State Park will soon offer hikers, cavers, birdwatchers, and others a new expanse to explore! Thanks to support from OSI, 550 acres will soon be added to the park, which sits within one of the most ecologically diverse regions of the Southern Cumberland Plateau. The park expansion safeguards forests, streams, and caves in one of Tennessee’s most spectacular natural areas—one inhabited by species unique to the region, including the painted tiger snail and Morefield's leatherflower. |
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