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Agenda to download

The Forest Stewards Guild is partnering with EcoForesters and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) on a project in Sandy Mush to increase capacity for forest restoration activities. One particular focus of the project is increasing landowner access to resources for invasive plant control. As part of these efforts, we’ve created a community coalition to increase the communication, coordination, and success of forest restoration activities in Sandy Mush. Community members are directly involved as key members of the Coalition, to share stories about managing invasive species in their woods and help identify the best way to move forward with a plan of action.

The Coalition meetings

Even if you missed the first two meetings, the Coalition meetings are open to the public, and anyone who is interested in the topic of forest health in Sandy Mush is encouraged to attend.

At our first meeting in August, we worked with community members and stakeholders to shape the vision of the Coalition, define conservation goals in the community, and provide input on invasive plant prioritization mapping. At our second meeting in October, we we further established a Mission & Vision Statement, heard briefly about controlling invasive plants on your land, possible ways to receive funding through EQIP, and identified potential threats to our target goals.

The Restoration Gathering on January 25th will include educational sessions on forest stewardship and hands-on learning opportunities with local organizations such as the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and MountainTrue. 

Thank you to our partners at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for the photos in this meeting announcement. This project is made possible in part by a grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership.