The organization bought the land this month, a tract that sits on Cold Mountain’s northwestern slope and adjoins the Pisgah National Forest and existing game lands. The high-elevation property contains an exceptional variety of forest communities and potential habitat for rare species. Eight tributaries flow through it. 

“The high quality of native habitat, pristine creeks and wide variety of dominant tree species make this tract exceptional,” said Michelle Pugliese, land protection director for SAHC. “The fact that it contains almost 6 acres of hemlock forest is particularly exciting because these special forests are rapidly declining due to disease.”

SAHC plans to transfer the tract to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission by 2017 to be added to the Cold Mountain Game Lands, at which point it would become open to the public. Earlier this year, SAHC helped the Wildlife Commission with a similar project, assisting in the purchase of a separate 64-acre tract, which is now part of the game lands and open to the public. www.appalachian.org.