01
02
03
04

Foothills Conservancy is dedicated to working together with you and others to preserve and protect the places we all love across the eastern Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills, including watersheds, environmentally significant habitats and forests and farm lands for this and future generations. Read more »

View all news
Latest News

What is WAC-HNG?

Hickory Nut Gorge, home of Chimney Rock State Park, has long been known for its scenic beauty.  The gorge also, however, is one of the most biologically diverse locations in North America.  With 37 rare plant species and 14 rare animal species, this special place truly deserves to be protected for generations to come.  Great strides have been made in recent years, protecting much of the land to form Chimney Rock State Park and with additional lands saved by Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and The Nature Conservancy.  However, saving the land entails more than just giving it protected status.

Click for more

Chimney Rock State Park & Catawba Falls: Part of the Foothills Conservancy Legacy

Story by FRANCES FIGART

It’s that time of year when getting outdoors becomes second nature. But with all the amazing places to hike in Western North Carolina, how do you choose?

We suggest you start off with some of the public lands made accessible by your local land trusts. Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, for example, has worked for nearly two decades to make it possible for you to visit some of the most spectacular parks, rivers, lakes, and scenic places in our entire state.

Foothills Conservancy serves eight counties: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford. “Our land trust is a little different in that we have done so much work on public lands,” says Susie Hamrick Jones, executive director, “and it’s because we have evolved in response to the landscapes in our regional footprint.” Click for more

Box Creek Wilderness Ranked Among the Rarest of the Rare

Endangered species inhabit its woodlands and over 50 miles of pristine streams flow freely through its forests.

Among North Carolina’s 2,400 Significant Natural Heritage Areas (SNHAs), the privately-owned 5,800-acre Box Creek Wilderness on the Rutherford-McDowell county line is now ranked among the rarest of the rare.

Recent rankings announced by the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (NCDENR) Natural Heritage Program, place the Box Creek Wilderness in the top 1 percent of the state’s SNHAs – at 24th.

The ranking is based on the collective value index, which sums all the different rare species and communities weighted by their rarity.

Click for more

Burr urges Congress to increase conservation efforts

BY J. REYNOLDS HUTCHINS 


MORGANTON — U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) joined Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) on Tuesday to introduce new legislation on the Senate floor urging their fellow congressmen to dedicate consistent and reliable funds to land and water conservation efforts nationwide.

The bill, cosponsored by five other congressmen, would amend the current Land and Water Conservation Fund, or LWCF Act of 1965.

Click for more
Donate Now to Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina

Become a Member

Become a Member

Together we can make a greater impact. Help preserve our region’s natural resources.


Newsletter Sign UpGET E-NEWS UPDATES
Sign up today to stay informed about the latest news. Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up


PLACES WE PROTECT Map of places we protect

Visit a State Park

Our North Carolina State Parks offer a variety of educational and fun opportunities for the entire family. Visit one of the Blue Ridge foothills state parks today.

Click for more

Connect with FCNC

Find Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter
Flickr Photo Gallery YouTube Channel
Wordpress Blog

Saving the places you love in the Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills
Accredited Land Trust