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The hills and mountains of the Southern Appalachians, from Tennessee and Georgia through the Carolinas and into Virginia, are treasures of natural beauty and vital ecological biodiversity.

Though the landscape may appear tranquil and unchanging, the complex web of life is at work here, simultaneously vigorous while fragile. Humankind exerts great influence on this area — we must always remember that these mountains are our home, our gift, and our responsibility.

The Southern Appalachians are home to an extraordinary diversity of species. Do you know that:

• The region is home to the richest temperate forest on Earth;
• There are over 1,500 species of flowering plants, including more kinds of trees than in all of Northern Europe;
• Plant life has been evolving here, in the absence of serious catastrophe, for over 200 million years;
• There are 32 species of salamander in the region, more than anywhere else on Earth;
• The natural ecosystems are threatened by air and water pollution, and exotic pests, as well as excessive development.
• Your help is needed to preserve our precious natural heritage!

Exhibit

The goal of the Within These Hills exhibit is to enhance public awareness of the necessity of protecting our Southern Appalachian natural heritage, and encourage active participation in this effort. It is a traveling exhibit of photographic images and text showcasing the natural features, flora, and fauna of the Carolinas and the Great Smoky Mountains. This exhibit serves to inform and inspire the public about the nature of—and concerns about—this diverse and ecologically important region. The exhibit will travel to various venues (for list, click the "venue" link at top) in the Carolinas and elsewhere throughout 2003 and 2004.

Explore, in text and imagery, the beauty, diversity, and fragility of this Southern Appalachian region through the eyes of 27 photographers of the Carolinas Nature Photographers Association as they take you on a contemplative journey "Within These Hills.” Click here for PDF brochure (Adobe Acrobat Reader required to view)