Linking Lands and Communities
in the Land-of-Sky Region


         
   
Creating a framework for conservation and development that    
respects community values and natural systems

    In response to unprecedented development in Western North Carolina, Land-of-Sky Regional Council
    (LOSRC) is working with local and regional interests to design a regional framework for conservation and
    development that will strategically guide future growth in the Land-of Sky region while respecting the integrity
    of the region’s ecosystems.

    The Land-of-Sky Region sits in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, and covers
    Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania counties. Our mountainous region has a wealth of natural
    and cultural resources that serve as key assets to the health and well-being of local communities.  Not only do
    these lands support the region’s  economy, but they provide our communities with clean drinking water, locally
    grown food and other products, and offer a mecca of outdoor recreation opportunities for citizens and visitors
    alike. The area's scenic beauty and cultural heritage contribute to a high quality of life that continues to attract
    businesses and people to the region.

        As the region's population continues to grow, many are asking...

          How can we direct future growth in a way that fosters economic development while also sustaining our
        region's abundant natural systems and resources?
 
        How do we protect our water supplies and ensure that our communities continue to have clean drinking
        water?

        How can we ensure that we sustain our region's green infrastructure that serve as our natural
        life support system - providing a myriad of ecosystem services that our communities depend on?

        How can we protect the unique ecosystems and species and intact landscapes that support
        our region's biodiversity?


    The Linking Lands and Communities Project

    The Linking Lands and Communities project is a broad-based effort that brings together practitioners, citizens,
    local governments and organizations to:

  •   Build a common understanding of the region’s *green infrastructure, and identify the lands most
                     suitable for protecting water resources; maintaining viable farm and forestlands; and providing wildlife
                     habitat and large functioning ecosystems.

  •   Develop land use planning tools and maps that communities can use to plan future growth,   
                     prioritize lands for protection, develop management strategies, and initiate opportunities for
                     collaboration amongst organizations and local governments from adjoining municipalities.

  •   Build relationships amongst organizations, agencies, businesses, municipalities, and neighbors to
                     identify regional strategies for collaboration, conservation, and addressing future growth.


      *Green Infrastructure can be defined as an interconnected network of natural lands, working landscapes and other open spaces
         that conserve ecosystem values and functions and provide associated benefits to human populations (Benedict, McMahon, 2006).

            
339 New Leicester Hwy. Asheville, NC 28806
ph: (828) 251-6622     fax: (828) 251-6353
A Project of Land-of-Sky Regional Council

Interested in learning
more about Green
infrastructure planning?

Check out these
upcoming training
courses offered by The
Conservation Fund

A Strategic Approach to
Conservation Planning
Using the Green
Infrastructure Approach

Planning for Climate
Change Using the Green
Infrastructure Approach

GIS Tools for Strategic
Conservation Planning
Linking Lands and Communities
in the Land-of-Sky Region