Southern Appalachians Focus Areas

The forests in the western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee sections of the Southern Appalachians are extremely wild. They also are threatened by reckless logging and unrestrained development.

Our work within the Southern Appalachians is focused on two areas: the Nantahala National Forest in eastern Tennessee and the Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina.

Eastern Tennessee

In eastern Tennessee, we’re working with the Tennessee Wild coalition to permanently protect 20,000 acres of the Southern Appalachians region as federally designated wilderness.

Western North Carolina

The mountains of western North Carolina are some of the greatest treasures in the east. We’re working to protect the forests and streams in these remarkable wildlands.

Why Wilderness

Wilderness is a precious resource with many human, natural and economic benefits that we need to protect.

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Join Us

Our precious wild places are being lost at the rate of 6,000 acres per day. You can help save America’s last remaining wilderness by joining The Wilderness Society with a gift of $35 or more today!

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mywilderness

Hear artists, activists and adventurers share what the ownership and legacy of these American wildlands means to them.

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  • Letter - National Association of Counties

    Dear Representative Gosar:

    On behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo), I am writing to express our support of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (H.R. 596). This landmark legislation would extend royalties and lease income from solar and wind projects developed on Federal lands to home states and counties.

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  • Letter - Western Governors' Association

    Dear Representative Gosar:

    We are writing to express our support for sharing with states and counties renewable energy royalty revenues from federal lands. The language contained in the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (HR 596) which you have introduced in the House would enact such revenue sharing.

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  • Letter - Outdoor Alliance

    Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of six national, member-based organizations, including Access Fund, American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, American Whitewater, International Mountain Bicycling Association, and Winter Wildlands Alliance, represents the interests of the millions of Americans who hike, paddle, climb, mountain bike, and backcountry ski on our nation’s public lands, waters, and snowscapes. Collectively, Outdoor Alliance has members in all fifty states and a network of nearly 1,400 local clubs and advocacy groups across the nation.

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