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Montreat Conference Center Inducted into Land Conservation Hall of Fame
Montreat Conference Center’s “generous gift to preserve the natural landscape of the county” was recently recognized by Buncombe County, North Carolina Planning and Development. At a celebration and recognition dinner in July, Montreat Conference Center was inducted into the 2008 Land Conservation Hall of Fame for its protection of 2,460 acres of Montreat wilderness through conservation easement.
The conservation easement makes this wilderness available forever for the public to use and enjoy. This is great news for Montreat, western North Carolina, and all who care about clean water in our state. The site is one of the most important remaining large tracts in Western North Carolina – thanks to its unique scenery, pristine waters, and varied biological treasures.
It anchors the south end of the Black Mountains range and is prominent in the panorama seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway and I-40 east of Asheville. It is adjacent to over 125,000 acres of contiguous protected forest lands, including US Forest Service holdings, National Park Service Blue Ridge Parkway lands, Mount Mitchell State Park, and the 17,000-acre Asheville Watershed.
The conservation easement protects fifteen miles of streams that constitute one of the Swannanoa River’s primary headwater sources. These streams are State-designated High Quality Waters. In addition, the property contains numerous significant plants and animals. Rare plant species include broadleaf coreopsis, white leaf sunflower and water lichen among others.
Everyone who knows and loves Montreat is familiar with Montreat Conference Center’s legendary commitment to environmental stewardship. The Board of Directors understands the 2,460-acre wilderness is one of the conference center’s most valuable assets and believes its protection is imperative.
Through this conservation easement, the Montreat Conference Center Board took strides to protect the wilderness not only for this generation but also for generations to come.