The Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy currently administers one of 16 AmeriCorps grants awarded in North Carolina in 2005. “Project Conserve” is the only AmeriCorps project working toward conservation, and supports volunteers working on a variety of conservation activities. These include farm protection and forest management, research and water quality monitoring, community education and outreach, storm water management, and promotion of the natural heritage of western North Carolina. Project Conserve is funded by the North Carolina Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Project Conserve 2005-06 members are: Lindsay Benedict, Benji Burrell, Dawa Clark, Keith Dycus, Angela Fernandini, Curtis Harris, Suzanne Hohn, Andrew Kota, Rob Lamb, David Mahaffey, Jake McLean, Megan Mailloux, Tonya Moore, Allison Shaw, Adrian Sherman, and Molly Wafle.

Appalachian Voices
Appalachian Voices empowers people to defend our region’s rich natural and cultural heritage by providing them with tools and strategies for successful grassroots campaigns. Currently, Benji Burrell is working full-time to oversee the revision and distribution of “Managing Your Woodlands,” a handbook for landowners designed to tackle one of the most important conservation challenges facing the Southeast – improving the management of private forests.

Asheville’s Green
Asheville’s Green preserves the city’s last remaining urban green spaces, which are vital to its culture, identity, and sense of place, by coordinating existing land conservation efforts and addressing unmet needs and resources.

Environmental & Conservation Organization
ECO is dedicated to preserving the natural heritage of Henderson County and the mountain region through education, recreation, service, and civic action.

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
The Foothills Conservancy works cooperatively with landowners and other conservation partners to protect important natural areas and open spaces of the Blue Ridge Foothills region.

French Broad River Watershed Education Center
The French Broad River Training Center provides comprehensive nonpoint source educational programming to landowners, concerned citizens, natural resource managers, and public officials.

The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy preserves the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
SAHC protects the world’s oldest mountains for the benefit of present and future generations. The Conservancy works with individuals and local communities to identify, preserve, and manage the region’s important lands.

Transylvania Boys & Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club works to help youth of all backgrounds, with special concern for those from disadvantaged circumstances, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders.

Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program
The Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program is dedicated to the conservation and protection of soil and water resources in the communities of the Upper Broad River Watershed by providing landowners with technical assistance and advice that is free and non-regulatory.