Vision

We envision a connected corridor of protected mountains and valleys from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Highlands of Roan. This landscape will provide resilient habitat for plants and animals, clean water for ecosystems and people, working farms that sustain local food, and opportunities for all people to enjoy nature. Our vision honors the cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachians while modeling land conservation that addresses climate change, food systems, and equity. SAHC will be a leader in conservation and stewardship, known for excellence, transparency, and collaboration. We are committed to welcoming people of all backgrounds, fostering a culture of justice and belonging. As the pace of conservation grows, so will our capacity, ensuring our staff, community, and protected lands are well supported. SAHC’s name will be recognized and respected across the region. The land and water we protect is our legacy, and we will defend it for generations to come.

Goals

1. 1.Protect priority lands that further our conservation mission.
2. 2.Steward land and conservation easements that SAHC holds, and lead the way in landscape-scale stewardship of the globally significant fragile ecosystems of the Highlands of Roan.
3. 3.Connect people with land for outdoor recreation, health, fitness, wellbeing, farming, livelihood and learning, striving to create equitable access to land for all people. Grow our organizational and financial capacity while supporting an equitable and inclusive culture in order to achieve our ambitious program goals and assure SAHC’s future sustainability to meet long-term responsibilities.