Alleghany's Bullhead Mountain has been saved -- and that's only the start of major preservation efforts for the Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust.
Operating in the seven counties of northwestern North Carolina, the Trust came into formal existence as an independent, nonprofit organization just one year ago.
In cooperation with the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and a dedicated campaign team of volunteers, the Trust spearheaded efforts to raise $500,000 to purchase two critical land tracts on Bullhead totaling 220 acres.
"We thought it would take two years to raise that kind of money," says James Coman, the Trust's executive director. "But it actually took only five months once the formal fundraising campaign started."
Such spectacular initial success provides precisely the kind of long-term momentum and legitimacy the new organization needs to move ahead with its mission, which is described this way:
"Neighbors helping neighbors work to preserve rural communities and culture in northwestern North Carolina through the protection of the land resources upon which they depend."
The most practical way to achieve this land preservation, according to Coman, is through conservation easements. Landowners donate or sell development rights to their properties to the Trust. These easements, which usually result in significant, immediate tax benefits for the landowners, remain in effect no matter who subsequently owns the land and prevent any change in its use or character.
Already in its brief history the Trust has received donated easements on 325 acres and is in active negotiations on almost 2,000 additional ones.
Although these efforts have been initially overshadowed by the Bullhead Mountain project, Coman estimates that the Trust will soon be able to acquire easements at the rate of 2,000 to 3,000 acres per year.
"Such easements are going to be key to our success," Coman says. "But Bullhead was a wonderful way to show what we can do. With a solid performance record, we can now move ahead to expand our membership base and community awareness of our activities."
He adds: "I'm confident we'll be playing a significant role in helping to preserve the character and beauty of this area for future generations."