Monday, March 18, the speaker series “Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture” will present a program on “Mainspring Methods: Conservation Strategy in WNC” by Skye Cahoon.
Local land trust Mainspring Conservation Trust was formed in 1997 by a group who were concerned about the impact that rapid development would have on WNC’s mountains, streams, farmlands and heritage. Nearly 30 years later, conserving natural areas and cultural history remains a top priority for the land trust.
This talk will dissect the strategies that Mainspring uses to identify high-priority conservation areas, from bottomland agricultural fields with fertile soils to isolated mountaintops. Learn about the extensive foundation of ecological data that informs the decision-making, including examples of rare species, important habitats, and unique waterways that Mainspring has protected in perpetuity.
Cahoon is Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach Associate. She has a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Maine (2020), and experience in wildlife research and science communication. In her role at Mainspring, she organizes a variety of events and educational experiences with the goal of connecting people to their local landscapes.
The program will take place at Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center at 51 Cowee School Road in Franklin beginning at 6:30 p.m. on March 18. The lecture series is designed to give people an opportunity to learn more about the local area from many different anglesLecture series focus on conservation in WNC.