Formed in 1997, Mainspring is concerned about the impact rapid development may have on Western North Carolina’s mountains, streams, farmlands and heritage, in addition to recent threats posed by wildfires, increasing extinction rates and intensifying weather patterns.

This talk will dissect the strategies that Mainspring uses to identify high-priority conservation areas, from bottomland agricultural fields with incredibly fertile soils to isolated mountaintops that form islands in the clouds, while focusing on the ecological data that informs its decision making.

Skye Cahoon, Mainspring’s Conservation Outreach associate, will host the event, which is to take place at 6:30 p.m. on March 18, at the Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center in Franklin.