When Cane Was King: The Story Of Native Bamboo

Traveling around the southern Appalachians, I occasionally glimpse a peculiar plant that does not seem to fit into any conventional category. It is tall enough to be a tree, yet has not other “tree” characteristics. The plant’s grassy foliage is attached to rigid (though not woody) stems that resemble corn stalks. These individual stalks grow…

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Sustainable Forestry Alliance Forms

As 2001 rolled into its first breath of spring, the Southeast saw rise to a new alliance whose sole mission is dealing with sustainable forestry and landowner outreach. Unlike other multi-organizational groups, the Southern Sustainable Forestry Alliance (SSFA), as it is called, reaches out to not only conservation organizations, but also to landowners, foresters, loggers,…

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Sea Kayaking On NC’s Bear Creek Reservoir

Picturesquely nestled in the Appa-lachian mountains near Cullowhee, North Carolina, Bear Creek Reservoir has become one of our favorite sea kayaking destinations. A breathtaking waterfall beckons the adventurous from its eastern end, and we’ve observed all kinds of wildlife including a variety of ducks, raptors, and one intrepid mud turtle. It’s surrounded by rolling peaks…

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