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Environmental Organizations
The following environmental organizations are participating in the exhibit. Contact them for more information on their programs.
Appalachian Voices—Boone N.C.
Focus: Protection & Restoration
- Reduce air pollution in Appalachia, which destroys human and forest health.
- Promote forest management on Appalachian public forests that provides recreational opportunities, protects water quality, and ensures a sustainable economy in local communities.
- Promote low-impact forestry by providing the tools and knowledge to private landowners that allow them to sustainable manage forestland
- Empower coal field residents to oppose the appalling practice of mountaintop removal mining, which devastates communities and destroys our mountain landscapes forever.
Contact: http://www.appvoices.org
Blue Ridge Parkway—Asheville
Focus:
The Botanical Gardens of Asheville
Carolina Raptor Center — Charlotte N.C.
Focus: Birds of Prey
- Dedicated to environmental education and the conservation of birds of prey through public education, the rehabilitation and release of injured or orphaned raptors, and research.
- Birds of prey are used to educate, inspire, and motivate people toward conservation and environmental action.
Contact: http://www.birdsofprey.org
The Canary Coalition
Focus: Air Quality Issues
- Monitor enforcement of existing laws and regulations related to air quality and smokestack emissions.
- Negotiate and help develop the NC Green Power program.
- Remove the legal and political obstacles to development of wind farms in North Carolina.
- Advocate for the development of mass transit systems, bicycle paths, greenways and other alternatives to automobile transportation.
Contact: http://www.canarycoalition.org
Dogwood Alliance — Asheville N.C.
Focus: Forest Issues
- Maintain leadership on Southern forest issues and work with policy-makers, forest practitioners and environmental groups to seek broad-based diverse solutions for protecting our forests.
- Identify and map priority endangered forests across the Southern Region.
- Promote usage and marketing of recycled paper and discourage sourcing paper from the South’s endangered forests.
Contact: http://www.newleafpaper.com
Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains
Focus: Air Quality, Exotic Species, Wildlife Conservation
- Funds scientific analysis of air quality issues in the Smokies, as well as educational programs to increase awareness of air quality problems and solutions.
- Supports research and front-line protection to protect Fraser firs and hemlocks from balsam wooly adelgid and the newly arrived hemlock wooly adelgid.
- Supports the experimental return of elk to the Smokies, as well as programs benefiting black bears, brook trout, and other native species.
Contact: http://www.friendsofthesmokies.org
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Focus:
- As sanctuary for an estimated 100,000 species of plants and animals, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) is America’s most biologically diverse national park
- The GSMNP protects that largest unbroken tract of undeveloped land in the Eastern United States
- Located within a one-day drive of over 80 million Americans, the Smokies bring largely urban visitors into a wilderness environment.
Contact: http://www.nps.gov/grsm
The Nature Conservancy—North Carolina
- The Conservancy’s mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities representing the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
Contact: http://www.nature.org/northcarolina
North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources
Focus: Water Supply, Polluted Runoff, Natural Resource Protection
- Develops water sources & drinking water infrastructure
- Protects ground water
- Conducts ecosystem enhancement program
- Promotes open space enhancement
- Protects coastal habitat
Contact: http://www.daq.state.nc.us/
North Carolina Wildlife Federation
Focus: Land & Resource Protection
- Works with Congress and North Carolina leaders to stop the construction of the North Shore Road in Swain County, NC.
- Works toward protecting the National Wildlife Refuges in North Carolina against such projects as the proposed US Navy landing strip in the vicinity of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.
- Works with the U.S. Forest Service and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to promote efforts in effective management of our public forests, including providing habitat diversity across forested landscapes and therefore diverse wildlife.
Contact: http://www.NCWF.org
RiverLink — Asheville N.C.
Focus: Water Issues
- Work with the western North Carolina community in the creation of a development plan for the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers that will provide 14 continuous miles of walking and biking trails.
- RiverLink’s Riverkeeper program addresses water pollution issues in the French Broad River watershed by focusing on the importance of the French Broad River as a place to work, live and play.
- In the Swannanoa River watershed, RiverLink conducts stream restoration projects (working with local landowners) and land owner education to improve water quality in the Haw Creek watershed and Azalea Park areas.
Contact: http://www.RiverLink.org
Sierra Club—Raleigh
Focus:
- North Shore Road -Swain county (stop construction)
- Air Quality (mobile and stationary)
- Ravensford Tract (land swap issue)
Contact: http://www.SierraClub-NC.org
Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project
Focus: Habitat Protection
- Defends public lands as a refuge for ancient forests, native wildlife and natural beauty.
- Seeks permanent protection of the region’s public lands and sustainable management of private lands.
- Empowers citizens to appreciate, defend and restore the native biodiversity of the Southeast.
Contact: http://www.sabp.net
USDA Forest Service National Forests in North Carolina—Asheville, NC
Focus:
- Manage the National Forests in North Carolina to maintain forest health and biological diversity, offer outstanding recreational opportunities, and provide a sustainable level of forest products, while protecting forest values and resources.
- Maintain, monitor, and manage water quality on National Forests in North Carolina to the benefit of all living species (including people).
- Actively participate with other governmental agencies and interested parties to advance our understanding of how air quality is impacting forest resources and the people visiting national forests.
Contact: http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc
USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station—Asheville, N.C.
Focus: Human Impacts to the Environment
- Monitor, analyze and mitigate the impact of ecological disturbances ranging from global change to invasive exotic species
- Explore issues related to the wildland-urban interface—that rapidly shifting boundary where human and forest populations interact.
- Analyze our forest ecosystems for landowners and forest managers.
See: The Encyclopedia of Southern Forest Ecosystems at
http://www.foresencyclopedia.net
Contact: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov
Western North Carolina Alliance
Asheville, N.C.
Focus: Land & Air Quality
- Support the preservation of ecologically critical land and progressive community planning.
- Improve air quality at the state, regional and national levels.
- Protect our public lands from destructive commercial development.
Contact: http://www.wnca.org
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Focus:
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