As our region continues to grow, we see more and more conflicts that arise between humans and the natural landscape.
    Decisions are made every day about the locations of a new residential development, water treatment plant, new routes for
    transportation, schools, shopping centers, trails, and parks.  Each of these decisions has some impact (positive, negative,
    or both) on both human and natural communities.  While we often have detailed information about economic trends,
    infrastructure needs, and housing densities, we rarely have comparable data and information about the natural landscape
    that provides the very places where new growth and development takes place.

    In order to make more informed decisions about  how land is used, decision-makers need more accessible information to
    help them decipher the trade-offs of such decisions. New condominiums or a new park?  A paved road that goes through a
    forest, or one that curves around the perimeter?  Spending money on a new water treatment plan or spending money to
    protect a watershed? Protecting a parcel next to the French Broad River or in the West Asheville neighborhood?  In order to
    understand the benefits and drawbacks of each option, leaders and practitioners need to have access to good science and
    available data and information about natural systems at the local, county, and regional scales.

    The ecological assessments conducted for the Linking Lands Project serve to address this need, and pull together data
    from various state and county agencies, governments and conservation organizations and house it in one place. Three
    separate assessments were developed based on the priorities identified in the region:




    Based on the goals for each assessment, relevant data is used to rank lands based on their landscape features (e.g.,
    spruce-fir forest, high quality stream, soil type, existing farm, or the presence of a rare species) to illustrate their high,
    medium, or low relative value related to the specific assessment goal.

    In addition to these three assessments, additional data was compiled to create an informational map that shows the
    region's recreation lands and conserved lands.  Unlike the assessments, the landscape features were mapped but not
    ranked or assigned any specific value.  A map showing the region's cultural resources is also being developed.

    To see a diagram of the Assessment Development Process, click here         

     For more information on each assessment, including the work group members, conceptual model, fact sheet, and list of
    data sources for each assessment, click on the Assessment title above.

     How may the Assessments be used?

    The assessments and the informational maps may be used:

  •  to identify the region's natural hubs and corridors that make up the green infrastructure network.
  •  as a resource for planners and decision-makers at the local, county, and state levels
  •  as a resource for land trusts and other conservation organizations for evaluating conservation projects
                      
    The individual input data layers will also be available for those groups who are interested.
A Project of Land-of-Sky Regional Council
339 New Leicester Hwy. Asheville, NC 28806
ph: (828) 251-6622     fax: (828) 251-6353
Linking Lands and Communities
in the Land-of-Sky Region

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