Mountain High Hikers
Conservation
Conservation is the act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; and includes the wise use of our natural environment. The Mountain High Hikers, Inc. supports all conservation efforts and participates in several conservation efforts to help preserve the trails and the natural ecosystem:
MHH Conservation Policy
Recommended Native Plant Nurseries
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia has listed these nurseries to help home gardeners find ethical sources of plant species native to Georgia.
Recommended Native Plant Nurseries List (pdf)Temporary rock cliff closures to protect peregrine falcons
Each year between January 15 and August 15, the U.S. Forest Service closes several rock faces in western North Carolina to recreational activities, including rock climbing, to protect the rare peregrine falcons that nest there. Peregrine falcons mate for life and return to the same site each year to nest. If the pair is disturbed, they will leave the site and may not nest again until the following year. Activities that are prohibited to reduce disturbance to nesting and fledgling falcons includes rock climbing, rappelling, ice climbing, bouldering, hang gliding, and slacklining. Drone use on the rock faces themselves and flying drones in the vicinity of the rock faces and within posted areas is also prohibited. Overnight camping within posted areas is not allowed. Through-hiking on designated trails is permitted within the posted boundaries but hikers should not approach the rock faces listed in the table.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/home/?cid=FSEPRD693954For more information on peregrine falcons see: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Birds/Peregrine-Falcon#28741685-overview
Foothills Landscape Project
The Foothills Landscape Project is the single most important Forest Service action in Georgia in the last 15 years. The Foothills Landscape Project is a massive forest management plan proposed by the U.S. Forest Service in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Stretching over 157,000 acres (almost double the size of the city of Atlanta), the project proposes the use of logging, herbicides, and prescribed fire to manage forests while also altering trails and roads. Public input by organizations like Georgia ForestWatch (GAFW), and that of concerned citizens, is crucial to both our mission and the appropriate management of our national forests. You can read more at: https://gafw.org/foothills-landscape-project/
Mountain High Hikers Conservation Update December 2017
Georgia Forest Watch is asking hikers to help eradicate an invasive species coming in after the recent fires in the Cohuttas. The 2016 fall's wildfires produced ideal conditions for non-native princess trees to reproduce and invade the Cohutta Wilderness. Native to Asia, princess tree's extraordinarily fast growth allows them to out-compete and choke out native species. Populations are beginning to explode in the Cohuttas. To help get this situation under control, volunteers are needed to hike the trails in and around the Cohutta Wilderness and record where you see princess tree seedlings. Please contact Georgia ForestWatch at 706-867-0051 or email Jess Riddle ([email protected]) if you would like to help.
Political Leaders
The below web sites provide information in regards to Georgia and North Carolina representatives who should be contacted regarding a particular conservation issue.