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Be a Steward of the Land
Issue: July - 2022
The important work of the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is more vital than ever.To learn more and support the Land Trust, visit hicashlt.org.
Ten new land protection projects that conserved 280 acres were completed in 2021 by Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, the nationally accredited, nonprofit land conservation organization that serves southern Macon and Jackson Counties.These projects protect two Southern Appalachian Bogs, two major rock outcrops, a new public park for Cashiers, and a piece of a historic trail. With the influx of new home and landowners here now, it is really important that we work together as a community to balance this new growth with conservation. As an ecologist, I would like to remind everyone of the impor-tant ecological concept of carrying capacity. Fundamentally, it means how many people can live in a given area. What it doesn’t tell us is the quality of that living. Too many people can lead to conditions that negatively impact living conditions. We could see our sandy soils erode, habitat fragmentation, diseased flora and fauna, warmer unhealthy streams, and warmer temperatures. How many folks can live on and visit the Plateau before we begin to see degradation of the environment? I believe that we have not reached that tipping point yet but as a community we need to think collectively on how we can avoid it.It’s very encouraging that the recent Urban Land Institute report identified as their number one recommendation to develop a conservation vision for Cashiers. Conservation planning could determine not just where we develop, but also where we should not develop. This does not mean zero development, rather guided development. This approach would allow Cashiers to protect its natural heritage and character while directing develop-ment both for commercial purposes and affordable housing.So, to those friends that are new to our mountains I have some suggestions. Do not plant invasive plants, as they can choke out the species we need and unravel our delicate ecosystem. Keep in mind your carbon footprint and when building a new home, consider working with the land, not against it. Let’s be gentle when we live, play, and build and above all let’s be good stewards of the land and water so we do not kill the goose that laid the golden egg.If you are not already a member of HCLT, we invite you to join today – visit us at hicashlt.org.
by Dr. Gary Wein; Executive Director, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust
