Thursday, October 1, 2026
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North Carolina (WNN) - Foothills Conservancy of NC may not be a name you’ve heard, but it is likely you’ve seen its 30 years of effort firsthand. Originally known as the South Mountains Coalition, this 501(c)(3) has permanently protected over 74,000 acres and plans to push that to over 80,000. Of this, at least 54,500 acres are under public ownership, used as preserves, parks, trails, and hunting land. To help spread the message and to celebrate their milestone, they worked with Creative Campfire to bring “A Dream for the Future” to life.
After a meet and greet with some of the conservancy’s staff, the screening began at the Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby, NC. After a little over a year, it was ready to air with the documentary showcasing the organization's various aspects. If you would like to see the film for yourself before reading about it, it can be found in full here:
“What are humans if we don’t have Earth around us?” The film opens with this potent statement and leaves space to ponder the question. Funnily enough, the organization's goal is to never learn the answer to that. It offers an overview of what they’re trying to protect: large areas of natural land. Hickory Nut Mountain is the next area the company plans to protect, and the film showcases the 12000 acres of unbroken forests. This will provide a safe home for multiple rare and threatened species when placed in permanent conservation.
The film also zooms in on other areas the company protects. Farmland is also placed into a trust to ensure it continues to be used in this way for the foreseeable future. The film showcases one such family farm, with the father warning that waiting to ensure these areas are protected may be too little, too late.
One of the main speakers in the film is the Executive Director, Andrew Kota. We spoke with him about how the conservancy has managed the massive undertaking of protecting so much of North Carolina. Beginning with a $25,000 donation to the Rollins Tract of South Mountain, they are now taking on projects like Hickory Nut Mountain, with costs approaching $30 million. Funding for projects like this comes not only from private donations but also from the land itself. Federal and foundation grants also help move these projects forward. Once acquired, the land is transferred to organizations like the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for use as state parks and game lands.
The nonprofit is run by 13 staff members and 18 board members. Despite this, it takes not just their work, but also countless volunteers and partnerships with other organizations. It is also supported by public decisions, as funding for grants and protections for nature preserves are ultimately determined by government decisions and voters. While Kota is worried about what current decisions, like allowing more mining and drilling on nature preserves, could mean, he felt it was important to explain that the nonprofit is not an advocacy group.
Over Kota was happy to see so many people attend the screening, as Cleveland County is one of the eight areas served by the organization. Looking across the room, he spotted board members, people from the company’s past and present, and many new faces dotting the crowd. He noted that it was great to see the board members who attended, as they had been phenomenal to work with in the past. He feels this sort of effort helps preserve the area's natural and cultural resources. However, one organization held its own table at the event.
One of the partnerships mentioned earlier is with Mountain True, as discussed by David Caldwell. Mountain True is a nonprofit focused on river cleanups, and Caldwell is one of the company’s riverkeepers. Moving to the area 35 years ago has allowed Caldwell to see the change in green spaces in Cleveland County.
“When I moved here, besides the Shelby City Park, they were like, no open green spaces in Cleveland, no real public lands to enjoy.”
- David Caldwell, Broad Riverkeeper
Despite this, he recounts that while exploring the rivers and lakes, people found a way to get out there and explore nature. Now, as the Broad Riverkeeper, he is proud to see the Broad River Greenway become Cleveland County's first official river access. Another notable expansion of green space in the county is Lawndale Beach Park. This is part of the planned Stagecoach Greenway on the First Broad River. However, with the partnerships of many organizations, this won’t be the only project to come to the area.
With the efforts of Mountain True, the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the NC Department of Transportation, and the Broad Riverkeeper, the First Broad River Paddle Trail is expected to be completed in 2027. This will include a landing on Metcalf Road in Shelby, NC, providing greater public access to the area's rivers. This, along with projects like purchasing Hickorynut Mountain, will ensure the continued expansion of green spaces in the area's future.
Below are the various links to learn more or donate to these organizations:
Donate to Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina: https://www.foothillsconservancy.org/donate
Donate to Mountain True: https://mountaintrue.org/donate/
Volunteer with Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina: https://www.foothillsconservancy.org/volunteer
The Hickorynut Mountain Project: https://www.foothillsconservancy.org/hickorynut
The Stagecoach Greenway Project: https://stagecoachgreenway.com/
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