MORGANTON, NC — Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina announced the successful transfer of its 118-acre Burntfield Branch property to the U.S. Forest Service, completing a multi-year effort to permanently protect this ecologically important tract and add it to Pisgah National Forest.
Foothills Conservancy originally acquired the Burntfield Branch property in 2021 to safeguard it from development and hold it in trust until it could become part of the national forest system. Located in the Globe area of northern Caldwell County, approximately five miles north of Collettsville, the property is bordered by the Johns River and surrounded on three sides by Pisgah National Forest. It was named for the stream that runs through it and includes an undeveloped portion of what was once part of the Johns River Valley Camp property.
The property features more than 2,200 feet of Johns River frontage, forested uplands, riparian areas, and small wooded wetlands. Its protection ensures continued public access to existing trail connections and provides new opportunities for fishing, hiking, and nature study along the Johns River corridor.
“Public access on Johns River [was once] a total of about 200 yards. Foothills Conservancy’s work on the Burntfield Branch tract, along with other recent acquisitions, has greatly improved public access to Johns River,” said Nick Larson, Grandfather District Ranger for the U.S. Forest Service.
The ecological diversity of Burntfield Branch is significant. The tract is home to at least 205 documented species, including six North Carolina Natural Heritage Program–listed rare species, such as the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). Dominated by Southern Appalachian hardwood forests, the property also includes rocky summits, cliffs, and unique meadows that provide habitat for wildflowers and migratory songbirds.
“The ecological value of this property is fantastic,” said Larson. “It’s a beautiful mix of southern yellow pines and hardwoods that define the foothills of the Grandfather Ranger District, and it offers wonderful opportunities for birders and botanists alike.”
Funding for Foothills Conservancy’s 2021 acquisition was made possible by a generous contribution from conservation philanthropists Brad and Shelli Stanback and a grant from the Alice Zawadski Land Conservation Fund of the North Carolina Native Plant Society.
“This project exemplifies how partnerships between private landowners, nonprofit land trusts, and public natural resource agencies can achieve lasting conservation outcomes,” said Foothills Conservancy Executive Director Andrew Kota. “We’re delighted to see Burntfield Branch officially become part of Pisgah National Forest, where it will be protected and enjoyed for generations to come.”
About Pisgah National Forest
The Pisgah National Forest, divided into three ranger districts that span 12 counties in western North Carolina, is an area characterized by mile-high peaks and heavily forested slopes. Comprising over 500,000 acres, it is primarily a hardwood forest featuring whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and hundreds of miles of trails, and is home to many native species, including more than 300 rare species identified by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program.
About Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina is a nationally accredited regional land trust that inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Foothills Conservancy has conserved more than 71,500 acres in its eight-county service area: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln, McDowell and Rutherford, in three major river basins: the Broad, Catawba and Yadkin.
FCNC supports and responds to community needs across our programmatic focus areas: land and water protection, farmland preservation, wildlife habitat improvement, forest health and stewardship, public park management, public trail development and maintenance, improving access to natural spaces, community education, and volunteer engagement.
Information about Foothills Conservancy, including ways to support its work, can be found online at www.foothillsconservancy.org or by calling 828-437-9930.