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HIDDEN TREASURES #2 — Public Lands
Stories by Madison Hinshaw, Jillian Randel, Jamie Goodman and Molly Moore Welcome to part two in our exploration of the most amazing places in the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountains — this time exploring some of our most fabulous Public Lands. Take this pull-out section with you as you explore the Hidden Treasures of our…
Read MorePlundering Private Property Rights
By Paige Campbell Half a dozen generations ago, when a coal-mining boom first enticed southwest Virginians to sell the rights to minerals beneath their land, the deal they were making concerned the coal itself. At least, that’s how Virginia’s courts have defined mineral ownership through most of the state’s mining history. But on April 9,…
Read MoreGuardians of our Public Lands
The employees of our state parks, national agencies and conservation organizations are committed to preserving the land we all own and enjoy. The future of our forests, air and water is in their care, and their work to protect our public lands deserves recognition and respect. Taking Community to the Summit By Jesse Wood “He’s…
Read MoreLast Stand for the Southern Spruce-Fir?
Ancient Mountaintop Species Are Most Vulnerable As Appalachia Warms By Molly Moore At the nonprofit park atop northwestern North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain, Director of Education Jesse Pope surveys the park’s cold-loving plants, keeping an eye out for the brassy Weller’s salamander and small Saw-whet owl, two of the many creatures that depend on the mountain’s…
Read MoreRooted: The Evolution of America’s Conservation Movement
“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.” Edward Abbey, The “Thoreau of the American West” in Desert Solitaire By Brian Sewell In 1963, when the first woman to receive the Audubon Award for achievements in conservation accepted the honor, she said that “Conservation is a cause that has no end.…
Read MoreEnvironmental Summer Camps — The Sequel!
Spring is here and that means it’s almost time for summer camp fun! From the coast of North Carolina to the mountains of West Virginia, there are camps tailored to young nature lovers. We’ve compiled a list of summer camps to get your kids outside, where they can meet lifelong friends and learn about protecting…
Read MoreThe Dirty Money Dozen
According to both the Center for Responsive Politics and Oil Change International, contributions from oil, gas and other energy industries skyrocketed in the past five years, with the coal industry alone contributing more than $8 million in 2009-2010 — more than twice what the industry had contributed in any previous election cycle. And during 2011,…
Read MoreThe Dirtiest Congress Money Could Buy
By Matt Wasson According to a report released at the end of 2011, the 112th Congress had achieved, in just its first year, the dubious distinction of running the most anti-environmental legislative session in history. The report, conducted by Representatives Henry Waxman, Edward Markey and Howard Berman, showed that, in 2011, the House voted 191…
Read MoreThe Emerging Efficiency Lobby: Diverse Interests Find Common Ground
By Molly Moore Conversations about blowing up mountains for easier access to coal or risking offshore oil spills to boost a corporation’s bottom line spark passions in a way that those about financing energy efficiency retrofits don’t. But wherever national energy dialogue goes, talk of energy efficiency and minimizing our energy consumption is sure to…
Read MoreCapturing Appalachia: Finalists From the Appalachian Mtn Photography Competition
By Jamie Goodman It took three judges almost a full day to narrow 1,156 entries down to 49 finalists. The results were stunning. This year’s Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition, currently on display at Appalachian State University Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, features works by photographers from around the Southeast, and a diverse and artistic…
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