Rolling Ridge is many things. A spiritual sanctuary. A haven for hikers, mountain bikers, birdwatchers and campers. A learning ground for kids and adults to connect with nature via community programs and naturalist classes. And a residence for the five families that call the 1,400-acre property just south of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia home. The privately-owned landscape consisting of aged-mixed hardwoods dotted with streams and ponds, sits amidst prime territory – buttressed by the iconic Appalachian Trail on one side and the majestic Shenandoah River on the other. “It is just beautiful,” said Linda Degraf, one of Rolling Ridge’s residents.
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The people of Appalachia have been forced to imagine life after coal. Wildlife biologist David Ledford found that it isn’t all bad. While working on wildlife restoration, Ledford discovered stunning views and a paradise for bird watchers at former coal mining sites in Bell County, Kentucky. He and his business partner, Frank Allen, came up with the idea to use the reclaimed lands as an educational wildlife center to teach students about coal, nature, and wildlife. “There’s some value here from a wildlife habitat perspective. It’s a value that a lot of people don’t know about and it doesn’t get
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$38.8 million approved for wetland conservation projects; $7.8 million to conserve 2,629 acres on national wildlife refuges and open thousands of additional acres to public hunting The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, chaired by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, today approved $17.8 million in grants for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to conserve or restore more than 108,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other birds in 14 states throughout the United States. Representing Secretary Zinke at the meeting was Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior James Cason. The grants,
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Conservation Partnership Grants Awarded to 58 Land Trusts across New York State; Grants to Land Trusts Leverage Additional $1.5 Million in Community Contributions and Private Support New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced $1.8 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants for 58 nonprofit land trusts across the state. The grants, funded through New York’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), will leverage an additional $1.5 million in private and local funding to support projects that will protect farmland, wildlife habitat, and water quality, enhance public access for outdoor recreation, and conserve priority open space areas critical for
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People become interested in agroforestry for a wide range of reasons including improving water quality, enhancing wildlife habitat, reducing soil erosion, and increasing crop and livestock production. Agroforestry, the intentional combination of trees with crops or livestock, is designed to support landowners’ conservation and production goals. Through U.S. Forest Service, state agency, and other technical assistance providers who work with landowners, the National Agroforestry Center works with partners to care for the land and serve people. Agroforestry can take a lot of different forms. In Pennsylvania, private landowner Denny Colwell, is growing ginseng in the woods to steward his land, using an
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In partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Appalachian LCC staff recently conducted workshops in Crossville, Tennessee and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in Decatur, Alabama to introduce LCC-funded research products to resource managers and scientists. The events demonstrated the need behind working at a landscape scale to better plan and manage for the conservation of essential natural and cultural resources. More specifically, it showcased Appalachian LCC derived tools and resources that can enhance collaboration between federal, state, and local entities and aid conservation planning efforts that transcend state lines. A total of 67
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The 2023 AMJV Impact Report is now available for downloading and sharing! Starting in 2022, this beautiful report has been designed annually by Liz Brewer (AMJV Outreach Specialist) to…
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by Liz Brewer, AMJV Outreach Specialist Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), and the West Virginia…
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The new AMJV 2022 Impact Report is now available for downloading and sharing! This beautiful report was designed by Liz (AMJV Outreach Specialist) to be handed out to congressional leadership…
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