How You Can Help   The Conservancy works across six states to protect and conserve the Central Appalachians. You can make a difference by donating to one of the following states: Kentucky Maryland Pennsylvania Tennessee Virginia West Virginia   Moosic Mountain Preserve offers sweeping views of Pennsylvania's northeastern corner and represents one of the best locations in the state for ridge top heath barrens.  Go Deeper See a slideshow of how the Conservancy uses controlled burns as part of a regular stewardship plan in the Central Appalachians. Learn about the Conservancy's commitment to conserving freshwater ecosystems for people and for nature. Take a tour of Conservancy projects across the Central Appalachian range.

The rich wildlife of the Central Appalachian Mountains lies at the doorstep of some of the most populous cities in the eastern United States, with its stony spine curving through Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

A mosaic of diverse forests, rare plants and animals, and freshwater systems define the region, and together provide a vast array of resources that humans have long relied upon. 

The region’s major rivers are a source of drinking water for millions, while timber from its forests sustains many local economies.  Embedded in this landscape lies a major source of coal, fueling widespread industry. 

Nature, too, thrives within the Central Appalachians, its rugged topography and range of altitude giving way to such an outstanding variety of plants and animals that it’s considered one of the world’s most diverse temperate natural areas. 

With the well-being of both people and nature at stake, The Nature Conservancy is working hard to safeguard the high quality lands and waters that together are of global significance.

Border Crossing

The Conservancy’s efforts in the Central Appalachians require a vision that spans across political boundaries, and far into the future.  In concert with both public and private partners, the Conservancy is using its science-based approach to provide sustainable solutions to the threats facing this region.

Working with the U.S. Forest Service and state forest managers, the Conservancy is helping to focus forest management practices more on diversity and to introduce controlled fire to the forests that depend on it. 

In addition, the Conservancy is teaming with both public and private landowners to restore aquatic habitat through both stream bank and mine land restoration.  We’re also working to preserve the land around caves to provide a buffer and reduce impacts on underground water systems and the rare species that survive there.

As transmission corridors are cut through the heart of the mountains - to extend new power lines from the energy-hungry East to the coal-burning power plants of the Midwest – the Conservancy is offering its scientific data to decision makers about where potential conflicts are in order to minimize conservation impacts. 

Utilizing innovative techniques such as these, the Conservancy is addressing the complex challenges faced by the Central Appalachians region, and is helping to provide the types of solutions that keep the interests of both people and nature in mind. 
 

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): © Byron Jorjorian (Virginia's Warm Springs Mountain); © David Dadurka/TNC (Finzel Swamp in Maryland); © George C. Gress/TNC (Barrens in Moosic Mountain Preserve in Pennsylvania); © Dave Spier (Pennsylvania's Kings Gap in South Mountain).