Plateau Magazine June-July 2023

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The Plateau’s Wild Places The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust protects what we hold dear By LISA GRAY YOUNGBLOOD » Photos by ANDREW RENFRO THE HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS LAND TRUST (HCLT) IS THE OLDEST LAND TRUST IN NORTH CAROLINA AND among the first 20 in the United States. Its mission is to preserve and protect valuable natural resources for all generations. It began in 1883 as the Highlands Improvement Association (HIA) and, through various acquisitions and conservation easements, increased its reach and impact to cover the entire plateau. As a nationally accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit land conservation organization, HCLT has been strategically conserving our most ecologically vital lands for well over a hundred years. Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul. John Muir Sunset as seen from the Satulah Mountain Summit looking west to the Appalachian Trail. 92 | ThePlateauMag.com
For the last 17 years, HCLT has been under the stalwart leadership of Dr. Gary Wein, a beloved figure on the plateau who has been integral to HCLT’s growth and success. From 2015 to 2021 alone, HCLT increased land protection by 38% but only increased its budget and operating expenses by 15%, which is wonderful but not sustainable. Thanks in large part to Dr. Wein, HCLT now protects over 3800 acres on the plateau with aspirations to protect much more. On June 30, however, Dr. Wein will step down, and HCLT will have a new Executive Director, Lance Hardin. An avid hiker and history enthusiast, Hardin has plans of his own. With a wealth of nonprofit experience, Hardin intends to focus on HCLT’s strategic conservation of the plateau’s iconic properties. “Our beloved natural resources face unprecedented challenges due to changing demographic, climate and economic forces,” he explains. “There has never been a more important time for HCLT’s mission.” At this passing of the torch, we wanted to reflect upon what HCLT means to the plateau. How exactly has it impacted our lives? To answer this question, we highlight some of the most ecologically significant properties currently under its stewardship. Understanding the value of these sites can help us look into the future and renew our commitment to support the organization that supports us. Keep in mind that HCLT is not a regulatory agency. It cannot bring enforcement actions against noncompliant actors. Rather, it acts as a perpetual steward of the land, which means it must acquire rights to that land first. HCLT does this in three ways: creation of conservation easements, donation or occasional purchase of lands in fee simple, and bequests. All of these require funding, a dedicated staff and committed volunteers. This is where we come in. As ordinary citizens and property owners, there is much we can do to support HCLT. McKinney Meadow Butterfly Weed (asclepias tuberosa), being pollinated by a carpenter bee, a native pollinator. Fritillary butterfly visiting a flowering Ironweed (Veronia noveboracensis) Grasshopper among Juncus and other herbaceous species in the wetland portion of McKinney Meadow. In the heart of downtown Cashiers, this stretch of land holds not only history but a biodiversity that has made it a designated stop on the Butterfly Highway, a statewide conservation restoration initiative that aims to restore native pollinator habitats to areas impacted by urbanization, land use change and agriculture. This site stands at the entrance to the historic 107 corridor in Cashiers, home to three National Register of Historic Places properties: High Hampton, Church of the Good Shepherd and the Zachary-Tolbert House. It was for sale and likely would have been purchased for commercial development, but the community rallied around preservation efforts and raised money for its purchase. Historically, this property was the site of the McKinney Boarding House, where early 19th century prominent figures like John C. Calhoun stayed when visiting the area. It is rumored that on one of Senator Calhoun’s visits, a travelling postman stopped in for the night only to find there were no beds. Not to be deterred, the postman turned to the Senator and said, “Move over thare old Horse, and let’s spoon.” Community icon Granny Allen, known for her generosity toward workmen, also lived on the property until her home was demolished in the early 1970s. But perhaps its greatest magic is in what it offers today. HCLT manages the property as a wildflower meadow, for which the site is particularly well-suited. Natural groundwater discharge has created a wetland that teems with life, and the land’s topographic characteristics, including impacts from its previous uses and plantings, have resulted in diverse vegetation. This network of native flowering plants, critical to HCLT’s restoration efforts, supports butterflies, bees, birds and other pollen and nectar dependent wildlife, which in turn support us. Our local native pollinators, including 174 species of butterflies, 13 species of bumblebees and the Ruby-throated hummingbird, are responsible for pollinating important fruit and vegetable crops that are a vital link in the comprehensive food web. Unfortunately, these pollinators are threatened due to habitat loss, invasive plants and pesticides, which makes properties like McKinney Meadow invaluable. By protecting these pollinators and preserving their habitat, we are protecting our future. Edward Baker Preserve The Edward Baker Preserve is a 64-acre site on Laurel Knob Road with an intact second-growth forest and rudimentary trails. A second-growth forest is a forest or woodland area that has regenerated through largely natural processes after human-caused disturbances such as timber harvest or agricultural clearing or equivalently disruptive natural phenomena. These forests provide habitat for native June/July 2023 | 93
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Plateau Magazine June-July 2023

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