In its front page article, entitled Do More with What You Already Have – Collaborate, the newsletter uses the example of WNCA meeting with three other environmental groups and funders to discuss possible collaborative steps they could take to save resources “during the current economic crisis and beyond.”

From this meeting, the article further notes, these organizations plan to survey 43 groups for ideas on how everyone might work together more efficiently.

WNCA Executive Director Julie Mayfield is quoted in the article a number of times. She stresses the possibilities of organizations sharing space, administrative costs, combining programs or even merging organizations.

“Best case scenario: we’ll have a really honest conversation, and people will be willing to stretch their boundaries in ways they didn’t think of when money was more plentiful.”

WNCA is a long-time member of the NC Center for Nonprofits.

 

The foundation gave WNCA its annual Community TIEs Award based on the group’s innovative approach of working with federal and state agencies, private companies, and other non-profits and involving volunteers in invasive exotic plant species control and native habitat restoration efforts on vulnerable public lands in Western North Carolina. Criteria for the top innovative program included the use of new and different solutions to combat old challenges.

“The innovation category traditionally receives the most applications from competing groups,” WNCA Executive Director Julie Mayfield commented, “so we are particularly honored to be chosen for this award, and we are grateful for the $10,000 gift.”

Excessive growth of exotic invasive plants is ranked second only to habitat destruction as a threat to wildlife. To combat this growing problem, WNCA and its partners launched this program in 2004, and since then the program has:

- Trained close to 200 volunteers in identification, inventory methods, and control methods of nearly a dozen invasive exotic plants;
Coordinated over 1,300 volunteer hours over 29 days across 25 miles of trails and roads in national forests and national parks;

- Coordinated control work on over 13,000 square feet in the Sandy Bottom ecosystem in Asheville to directly benefit endangered Bog Turtles and diverse salamander species;

- Planted over 150 mixed-hardwood trees for habitat restoration; and Educated over 300 other citizens through presentations to various organizations, schools, and garden clubs.

“Our success is measured not only in the hard numbers of miles and acres controlled, but also in the knowledge volunteers take back with them to their yards, their neighborhoods, and their local parks,” said WNCA Ecologist Bob Gale, who manages the program. “WNCA is proud to use this innovative and scientific approach to continue to improve our region’s most ecologically sensitive areas.”

Other partners in the program are Equinox Environmental Consulting and Design, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Southern Appalachian Man and Biosphere, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and North Carolina Department of Transportation.

WNCA is a 27-year old environmental group that empowers citizens to advocate for livable communities and the natural environment of Western North Carolina. For more information on upcoming WNCA activities, call the office at 828-258-8737 in Asheville.

 

View Our Generous Donors! (pdf)

 

The Governor deserves our thanks for taking a strong stand for the environment and renewable energy today. Click here to read the Governor’s official statement on her vetoes; Executive Order 96: Offshore Wind Economic Development Task Force; Executive Order 97: Reauthorize and Expand the Governor’s Scientific Advisory Panel on Energy; and the News & Observer’s coverage from today’s paper: “Perdue vetoes praised, scorned.”

This list provides buyers with a credit card sized foldout of invasive plants to avoid in WNC and similar native alternatives.    

Just print it out, fold it up and keep it with you for the next time you’re at the local nursery!