High Country Life

Nature reserves are large areas set aside to conserve the natural environments of endangered plants and animals, and to promote ecotourism practices.

Reduce your carbon footprint and select sustainable products as one way of maintaining natural beauty. Climate change poses one of the greatest threats to this area of beauty.

1. Leave No Trace

Leave No Trace (LNT) is an outdoor ethic practiced by hikers, campers and outdoor enthusiasts to protect wild spaces for future generations.

LNT goes beyond just picking up trash while hiking or camping; it entails leaving the landscape in its most natural state by not moving rocks, plants or trees and avoiding areas impacted by human activity; additionally it involves rehabilitating any areas which have been significantly changed due to human activity – an approach to responsible recreation designed to preserve nature while heightening wilderness experiences and ensure you’ll always leave with fond memories!

Nature reserves of the High Country are one of the main draws for visitors, as these areas work to protect natural ecosystems that support common, rare, and endangered animal and plant species. Furthermore, these nature reserves provide an opportunity to take a break from daily life while taking advantage of breathtaking outdoor scenes and enjoy nature reserves as places for relaxation.

The High Country boasts more than 100 nature reserves and one national park, making it easy to find an idyllic setting for a mountain vacation getaway. When planning your visit, please remember to adhere to preserve rules so as to have an enjoyable experience, keep yourself and other visitors safe, and protect the land from being overused.

Carefully follow designated trails when hiking to prevent accidentally trampling wildlife and to preserve trailside vegetation and biological soil crust while preventing damage to slick rock or muddy sections of the trail. This will not only avoid accidental encounters with animals but will also protect trailside plants and ecosystems that depend on them – as well as avoid damaging sections with poor footing or steep elevation changes that could become hazardous terrain for you to traverse.

It’s especially essential when hiking in a riparian zone, where trails cross creeks or other bodies of water, to be aware that protecting water quality requires protecting wetlands that support healthy stream ecology and protecting right-of-way when sharing trails. Respect right-of-way rules when sharing.

2. Support Conservation Efforts

As climate and biodiversity crises intensify, state and territorial leaders are taking many steps to protect our natural spaces. Their efforts vary across geographies and constituencies but all reflect an intense commitment to stewarding woods, waters, deserts, grasslands and local green spaces that offer so much.

Conservation strategies range from protecting wildlife habitat to increasing public access to nature. State leaders have many tools at their disposal for conservation efforts, including setting aside land for preservation purposes or purchasing private properties as a form of protection; creating partnerships between private landowners to conserve natural areas and supporting community efforts to conserve local landscapes and wildlife; setting aside public property as a conservation reserve or purchasing private properties as protection; setting aside private properties as conservation reserves or purchasing them outright for this purpose; setting aside portions of private property as protection, purchasing it from owners to create partnerships; creating partnerships between private landowners to conserve natural areas while supporting community efforts to preserve local landscapes and wildlife protection efforts at various scales.

State leaders can also help protect existing natural areas and wildlife habitat by placing requirements and incentives on developers to limit impacts to natural areas and ecosystems, invest in proactive conservation projects that offset development, and consider mitigation at larger landscape scales. They may also leverage resources and build partnerships with local governments in order to address specific landscape needs – for instance restoring ecological function of wetlands while safeguarding vulnerable communities from flooding.

States across the nation have joined with private landowners to protect and restore landscapes and wildlife habitat, using initiatives such as Western Landowners for Wildlife (WLFW). Through this model, over 12 million acres of Greater Sage-grouse and New England cottontail habitat has been conserved – more than five times Yellowstone National Park! Over 8,400 ranch owners have also signed on with this voluntary habitat conservation program which has proven highly successful at conserving key wildlife habitat and decreasing Endangered Species Act listing threats for species such as Greater Sage-grouse and Canada Lynx.

State leaders can promote conservation by channeling oil and gas revenues, budget surpluses or other appropriations funds into permanent funds that support conservation projects through regular earnings or interest generated from investments. One such fund in New Mexico has helped safeguard sage-grouse habitat through purchases directly or negotiating conservation easements on private lands.

3. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

High Country Nature Reserves provide an ecological solution to climate change. Their lush forests can help pull carbon out of the atmosphere and store it underground – much like how cars, trucks, buildings and other human activities store carbon underground. However, many national parks still produce greenhouse gas emissions while protecting wildlife; this new study investigates these emissions from nature-based conservation management estates and their operations.

East Tennessee offers beautiful mountainous terrain for hikers to discover breathtaking retreats like this breathtaking retreat, offering an abundance of wildlife species such as Torrey’s mountain mint and northern long-eared bats, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and flying squirrels – not to mention several rare plants like Torrey’s mountain mint that is endangered and Torrey’s mountain mint being an endangered plant species – whitetail deer, wild turkeys and flying squirrels are frequently seen roaming freely across its expanse. Riparian habitats such as waterfalls and streams can also be found throughout its extensive grounds – ideal for hikers!

This distinctive and picturesque property boasts a picturesque log cabin with breathtaking mountain views, as well as two separate hunting cabins. These unique properties are nestled into the lush Cherokee National Forest for endless outdoor adventure both summer and winter; high elevation (4000 feet) provides cool summer breezes and impressive snowfalls; spacious living area and kitchen boast open floor plans, perfect for hosting guests; while their large wraparound deck overlooking a stream provides an idyllic place for relaxation with family or friends.

Property with multiple ridgetops and close proximity to Cherokee National Forest offers great potential as an investment or building site, including multiple vineyard sites that could qualify for incentives like conservation easements and agricultural tax credits. Furthermore, Tennessee offers Low Property Tax Rates that make living here more cost-effective.

Since millennia, Indigenous Peoples have called the Emerald Edge home. Today, TNC and Nature United are working alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities in protecting this spectacular landscape, building resilient economies rooted in nature-based economies, and combatting climate change. We leveraged TNC’s Coast Fund to secure $370 million for natural resource management programs led by local communities as well as supporting shifts toward conservation practices that align with Indigenous priorities, values and aspirations.

4. Choose Sustainable Products

Nature reserves are home to an impressive variety of plants and animals, but they’re also important in regulating our planet’s climate. By sequestering greenhouse gasses into oceans, forests, or peatlands where they stay out of the atmosphere – nature reserves help prevent global warming, extreme weather events and ice loss as well as help stabilize Earth’s temperature while safeguarding our water supplies.

National parks and nature reserves are ideal spots to find rare varieties of flowers, ferns, mosses and wildlife in its natural environment. Visit a nature reserve during warmer months to spot swamp wallabies, wombats and echidnas roaming freely across the landscape while in winter you may witness rare alpine plants such as Snake’s Head Fritillaries at Coldham or an endangered Mountain Pygmy Possum roaming across Buller grasslands.

Nature’s beauty extends far beyond just eye-catching scenery; it connects us to something greater than ourselves and has been shown to reduce stress, boost mental health and boost moods. Because of this, it’s imperative that we do everything possible to preserve the natural wonders of our world and leave something behind for future generations.

Exploring nature on foot or bike is the ultimate way to experience its splendor, and in the High Country there is an extensive backcountry trail system suitable for hiking, biking and ATV use. Discover Bluff Mountain with its wildflowers or stroll along Flower Hill Nature Preserve’s flowering cliffs; this preserve hosts Carolina hemlock forests, dwarf red oak/white oak forests as well as rare flat rock plant communities for an impressive array of botanical diversity.

If you’re searching for the ideal legacy property that fulfills all of your criteria, Carter County in North Carolina could be your dream come true. Offering complete amenities to make life as you dreamed it more fulfilling; imagine waking up each morning with your fly rod in hand to fish your favorite lake; harvesting and bottling wine right in your own cellar; or taking in breathtaking views from a covered porch overlooking the High Country.