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| View of Pisgah National Forest from the Blue Ridge Parkway -- June 8, 2011 |
In
my last post, I alerted my readers to the fact that the Forest Service was seeking public input in the development of
a new Forest Plan for the
Francis Marion National Forest north of Charleston. I continue to urge those who love the Francis Marion to participate in the process via the interactive
on-line site where you can read others' comments, respond and leave your comments on the future management of the forest. Last week, I did manage to leave work early to attend the Forest Service hosted workshop which was both informative and inspiring. A variety of interests -- recreation, conservation and business -- were represented. Again, I think that it is wonderful that public input is going to play such a major role in the development of the new plan which reflects our needs and values. It is now up to us to participate in the process and communicate what we value in our forests!
Very recently, I learned via a
Wilderness Society newsletter that the Forest Service is also developing
a new management plan for the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests in our North Carolina mountains. Presently, they are seeking public input via
a series of meetings in various locations throughout this vast region. Apparently, similar public meetings were held last Fall for the Francis Marion. So, perhaps, they will eventually also provide an on-line channel for public input similar to what is currently available to us (until April 11!) for the Francis Marion. I certainly hope so as I cannot attend these weekday meetings living & working here in Charleston. But I care deeply about these forests and the wildlife that inhabit them. Carl and I frequently visit the NC mountains to breathe in the serenity invoked by the vistas, the waterfalls, the trails and the wildlife! Our forests must be managed in a manner that ensures adequate recreational opportunities but that also protects the interests of the original inhabitants -- the wildlife! This
Forest Service map reveals the vast patchwork areas that these 2 forests together encompass stretching from North Carolina's westernmost border with Tennessee up to Blowing Rock, NC. Thus, I encourage my readers to read about
the new forest planning process and, if you live close to one of the meeting places, to attend a meeting. If you cannot, you can send comments and/or questions to:
comments-southern-north-carolina@fs.fed.us
While exploring some of the links on the Wilderness Society newsletter, I found a program called North Carolina's Mountain Treasures, representing 41 identified areas of special conservation and recreational value within the Pisgah anad Nantahala Forests. Some of these areas are permanently protected by the National Wilderness Preservation System or because they are located along Wild and Scenic River Corridors. The North Carolina Mountain Treasures report, developed by the Wilderness Society and its partners, identifies 8 unprotected wildlands that merit protection from road-building and timber harvests because they "contribute much to the health and viability of the globally significant Southern Appalachian ecosystem." Five of these 8 areas have temporary protective status as they have been designated as Wilderness Study Areas. The report describes these areas in detail and shows how they are at risk. I will certainly spend some time reading this report myself to learn more about these areas in order to provide a more informed opinion on advocating for the conservation of these areas in the new forest plan.
As in my last post, here again are some images of these forests, captured over the years, to remind you of the beauty, tranquility, and fragility of these wondrous mountain habitats.
First some photos from late Spring and Summer adventures:
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| Moore Creek Cove Falls -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Red-tailed Hawk -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Ruffed Grouse -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Indigo Bunting -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Appalachian Bluet -- Pisgah National Forest -- May 2011 |
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| Canada Warbler -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Pine Siskin -- Mount Mitchell -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| View from Mount Mitchell -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Horsepasture River -- Nantahala National Forest -- July 2009 |
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| Whitewater Falls -- Nantahala National Forest -- August 2008 |
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| Eastern Towhee -- Nantahala National Forest -- July 2009 |
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| Mount Mitchell State Park trail -- Pisgah National Forest -- Photo by Carl Miller -- July 2004 |
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| Grasses and wildflowers on Max Patch -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Storm clouds building over Blue Ridge -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Max Patch Summer sunset -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Black-Throated Blue Warbler -- Pisgah National Froest -- May 2011 |
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| Skinnydip Falls -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| The rare Purple Fringed Orchid and Ferns -- Waterrock Knob -- Nantahala National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| American Robin -- Nantahala National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Double Rainbow at Waterrock Knob -- Nantahala National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Escargot! -- Nantahala National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Waterrock Knob Sunset -- Nantahala National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Chestnut-sided Warbler -- Pisgah National Forest -- May 2011 |
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| Looking down on the Chattooga River in NC from Bull Pen Road Bridge -- Nantahala National Forest -- August 2008 |
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| Chattooga River at Bull Pen Road Bridge -- Nantahala National Forest -- August 2008 |
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| Eastern Towhee -- Nantahala National Forest -- July 2009 |
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| Whiteside Mountain -- Nantahala National Forest -- July 2009 |
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| Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies on Turk's Cap -- Pisgah National Forest -- August 2008 |
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| Late afternoon sun breaking through storm clouds -- Nantahala National Forest -- June 2012 |
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| Black and White Warbler -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
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| Blueberries -- Nantahala National Forest -- July 2009 |
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| Trillium -- Pisgah National Forest May 2011 |
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| Dark-Eyed Junco -- Pisgah National Forest -- June 2011 |
Now here are some photos from Fall months:
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| Looking Glass Rock in the Pisgah National Forest -- October 2003 -- Photo by Carl Miller |
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| My mother and myself on Max Patch -- Pisgah National Forest -- -- Photo by Carl Miller -- October 2008 |
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| View from Max Patch towards the Great Smokey Mountain National Park -- Pisgah National Forest -- October 2008 |
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| Max Patch -- Pisgah National Forest -- October 2008 |
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| Trail up to Max Patch -- Pisgah National Forest -- October 2008 |
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| Max Patch -- Pisgah National Forest -- October 2008 |
What a treasure trove of delightful memories in these photos! I so enjoyed putting together this photo album for the blog. These photos remind me of how precious and fragile these forests are and of the great value they have not just for us humans but also for the wildlife that inhabit them and the flora that cover them. We need to do all that we can to protect them. I will be paying close attention over the next few months to how I may be part of the forest planning process for Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. And I promise to keep you posted, too!
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