Photo by Stephanie Contreras, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust announced it has renewed its land trust re-accreditation – proving once again that, as part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, it is committed to conservation excellence.
One thing that unites us as a nation is land: Americans strongly support saving the natural spaces they love. Since 1909, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust (HCLT), has been doing just that for the people of the Plateau.
“Renewing our accreditation shows HCLT’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation in Cashiers and Highlands,” said Lance Hardin, HCLT Executive Director. “We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our strength means special places – such as Satulah Mountain Preserve in Highlands and Chimney Top in Cashiers – will be protected forever, making the Plateau an even greater place for now and in the future.”
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving this distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation, signifying its confidence that HCLT’s lands will be protected forever. Accredited land trusts now steward over 20 million acres – the size of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island combined
As the oldest land trust in North Carolina and one of the oldest in the nation, HCLT has been conserving our wild places for 115 years, protecting over 4,300 acres of ecologically valuable land throughout Cashiers and Highlands.
While the vast majority of the Land Trust’s conserved lands are not open for public recreation, some of their most beloved preserves are, including places such as Sunset and Sunrise Rocks, Satulah Mountain Preserves, the historic Kelsey Trail, McKinney Meadow and coming soon to Cashiers, Edward Baker Preserve.
HCLT understands that in order to want to save something you must understand it, so they are increasingly devoting resources to public education and engagement. This includes their wildly popular Kids in Nature program where they collaborate with existing afterschool groups to engage local children in the natural wonders in their own backyard, and through an abundance of other community offerings including experiences such as forest bathing, mushroom log inoculation workshops, and The Village Nature Series, part of a 17 year collaboration with The Village Green, to name a few.
“We are proud to recognize Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust’s continued commitment to conservation excellence,” said Melissa Kalvestrand, executive director of the Commission. “The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction that stands for excellence, trust and permanence. Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts that are united by their strong ethical practices. Accredited land trusts inspire confidence and respect among their peers and in their communities.”
Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is one of 1,281 land trusts across the United States according to the Land Trust Alliance’s most recent National Land Trust Census. A complete list of accredited land trusts and more information about the process and benefits can be found HERE.
For more information about the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, click HERE.
Fore more information about the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, click HERE.
Pictured at the top of the article is an aerial photo of the summit of Satulah Mountain in Highlands, one of HCLT’s protected properties.