Appalachia Highlands Wildlands Corridor
Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) | knlt.org
The Appalachian Highlands Wildlands Corridor (AHWC) is home to globally significant biodiversity, forests that offer a natural climate solution and communities undergoing the largest economic transition since the industrial revolution as they shift from coal-based economy. KNLT is working to connect landscapes and communities through wildlands conservation that is science-based and community-minded. These relatively intact forested corridors are vital habitat in the region with a history of extensive resource extraction (e.g. coal, gas, oil, timber). Furthermore, this geography is an important conservation region within a continental scale wildway that spans from Alabama to Canada. Several tracts are deemed valuable conservation targets due to their contributions to protecting biodiversity, stabilizing the climate and supporting local communities.
Appalachian Highlands Wildlands Corridor: Pine & Cumberland Mountains sections: land acquisition (biodiversity & climate); carbon storage; forested watersheds (climate impact buffer); community-based (access to nature; new outdoor economy (Great Eastern Trail); outreach & engagement (Cornell Lab Orni, regional group) & more.; Funding would be for land acquisition, capacity and programs.
The Reese-Roan tracts, on the north face of Pine Mountain, protect forested swarming habitat for the Northern Long-eared and Indiana Bats. Additionally, these tracts will safeguard headwater streams of the Cumberland River which is a global priority for threatened and endemic freshwater species (especially mussels, fishes, and crayfish). The Reese-Roan tracts are adjacent to 17,000+ acres of contiguous state conservation lands and will add vital connectivity in Central Appalachia. The forests on these tracts store an estimated 80-90 metric tons/acre of forest carbon (aboveground, coarse woody debris & soil) and represent important carbon reserves given their climate resilience and ongoing sequestration. Because these forests also protect headwater streams of the Cumberland River, they help mitigate extreme rain events for Pineville and other communities in the watershed. The targeted tracts are key acquisitions for advancing the emerging outdoor economy of the region. The Reese-Roan tracts are situated between Pine Mountain State Resort Park, Kentucky’s first state park, and the city of Pineville, making them prospective areas for hiking trail access linking the town directly to the State Park. These acquisitions will include annual voluntary payments to the local school districts as part of KNLT’s ongoing community partnership given the tax-exempt status on the lands KNLT owns.