“Reaching 30 years is a story of people - landowners, partners, and community members - who have believed in our work, financially supported our projects, operations and growth, and put their trust in our ability to achieve conservation outcomes.
Initially focused on the South Mountains, FCNC has grown into a leader well-positioned to take on complex projects shaping the region’s future. Each advances our long-term vision to conserve working forests and farms, protect clean water at its source, preserve expanses of unbroken forest, and expand access to trails and outdoor recreation. We are currently advancing nearly thirty unique projects.
Within our South Mountains to Blue Ridge Conservation Corridor, we expanded our Pinnacle Mountains Preserve in McDowell and Rutherford counties to nearly 4,200 acres in size, land that connects eastward to nearly 60,000 acres of contiguous conservation land.
FCNC is also working to protect Hickorynut Mountain – a vast, 12,000-acre, unbroken forested landscape. When this land is protected in the next few years, the Conservation Corridor will grow to nearly 80,000 acres and will host the Wilderness Gateway State Trail. We are currently constructing the initial ten miles of this state-designated trail, and at least twenty additional miles will be ready for public use in the next two years. It will be unique because it will be built to adaptive standards to provide more universal user access.
Connected lands are vital for wildlife movement, clean water, and climate resilience. Helene was a powerful reminder of just how connected our landscapes are and how essential conservation is in the face of natural disasters. Recovery funding from CFWNC provided us with time and financial support to repair widespread damage that would have taken us years to complete on our own.
Having a partner who can respond in moments of need - like after Helene, or to help fill a funding void for an important conservation project - while also helping us plan for our land trust’s future financial stability is incredibly valuable.
FCNC recently transferred some of our endowment funds to CFWNC because of the values and goals we share. Partnering with CFWNC allows us to plan strategically, think beyond the immediate, and invest our long-term stability. That kind of support ensures that we can continue protecting land, building relationships, and thinking and acting at a landscape scale.”
Andrew Kota, Executive Director