This 13-acre property in Carter County is within the State of Tennessee Wildlife Action Plan’s Blue Ridge Conservation Opportunity Area, a high-priority region focused on protecting Southern Appalachian ecosystems. It’s easy to understand why:

Plants and natives: It’s a young forest on a mountainous slope, near Roan Mountain State Park and with the Cherokee National Forest along its southern border. Because of its significant elevation, many of the plants found here are uncommon, almost as though they exist within their own micro-climate. These include Tennessee Starwort (Stellaria corei), green false hellebore (Veratrum viride), fire cherry (Prunus pensylvanica), and umbrella-leaf (Diphylleia cymosa).

Birds: The land is also a hotspot during spring migration, and interesting species are seen every year, including Least Flycatcher, Veery, Canada Warbler, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. The landowner is continuing to preserve it as a relatively natural early successional habitat for wildlife, especially as a potential breeding site for the rare Golden-winged Warbler. Joyce Brill was an avid bird watcher during her life, and the family feels it is especially appropriate that the conservation of this property might assist with restoring their habitat.

Water: A stream skirting the southeast corner of the tract, is recognized among Exceptional Tennessee Waters by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for being natural breeding grounds of the southern brook trout, and the habitat for the state endangered mountain St. John’s Wort.

The large amount of other preserved natural areas within five miles of this property underscores the richness and importance of the region’s biodiversity. Put simply: An enormous amount of habitat conservation happens here, and FLC is honored to contribute our efforts to ensure it continues in this region.