Working together to preserve environment
Jennifer Cordier Plant Rescue Team

PROJECT: The Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary project, sponsored by the Preservation Committee of the Community Council of the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center/ UGA, honors those landowners who have designated a portion of their property be set aside as a sanctuary in order to preserve the native plants on the property.

Every morning I climb out of bed, brew a pot of coffee, turn on the radio and listen as NPR reports the grim news of the day - fires in the west, floods in the Midwest, droughts in the south, gas prices rising, food shortages and more. This is not a pleasant way to begin one's day. In fact, those of us who live in the southern Appalachian's, one of the most beautiful places on the planet, might begin to believe that good news no longer happens. Being an eternal optimist, and a firm believer in the overall goodness of my fellow man (and woman), I am about to report on a program of positive action which is capturing the imagination of landowners in Cherokee and Clay counties in North Carolina and Union, Fannin, and Towns counties in Georgia.

GOLDENSEAL: Qualified applicants receive a certificate recognizing their property as an Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary and may purchase a marker to be placed on the property.

The Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary project, sponsored by the Preservation Committee of the Community Council of the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center/ UGA, honors those landowners who have designated a portion of their propert¡y be set aside as a sanctuary in order to preserve the native plants on the property. Qualified applicants receive a certificate recognizing their property as an Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary and may purchase a marker to be placed on the property.

Since the project's inception, four short months ago, eighteen properties have been certified with a total of 385.02 acres designated as sanctuaries! Why is this important? It is important because it suggests that we care about our land. We care enough to learn about our native plants, to understand their importance to the health of our environment, and to set aside a portion of our property to insure that those plants survive for future generations. And just imagine the possibilities - if landowners, schools, churches, campgrounds, developers and others who own parcels of undisturbed land would set aside a portion of their property as botanical sanctuaries, the environmental impact would be significant.

So, let us spread the good news. We live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and we can work together to preserve the beauty of our natural environment. Now that is very good news!

To learn more about the work of the Preservation Committee, the Plant Rescue Project and the Appalachian Native Botanical Sanctuary Project contact Jennifer Cordier: 706-745-9317 ; ivylog@ alltel.net or visit our website; www.gmrec.uga. edu and click on the links to Community Council and Preservation.