The Conservation Exchange

了解更多关于工作土地中心的项目、研讨会和参与机会.

了解更多

For years we have been a leader for sustainable l和 管理. Now we want to share our knowledge to help l和owners in our region 和 beyond. 在气候变化的背景下,保护交流使用沃伦·威尔逊的应用学习哲学来传播希望和有意义的行动.

Addressing Critical Needs

首页知道,北卡西部的住房和商业开发正在侵占开放空间和自然社区.

We know climate change more adversely affects low-income communities 和 communities of color.

We know we need people who can deftly navigate the ecological, 社会, 保护首页不断变化的世界的经济现实以及包容性是找到这些解决方案的核心.

首页知道这些事情,因为新皇冠体育app官方下载自20世纪70年代以来一直提供领先的环境研究项目.

首页现在有机会定义和实施一种课程,大学校园本身可以成为这种课程的交付系统, 和 the direct focus of, our academic programming.

A Regional Model

L和owners in Appalachia 和 around the world have their own mixed-use 景观s 和, 在很多情况下, struggle to make a living 从 their l和. Many are forced to sell to developers 和 further fragment the 景观, which increases carbon emissions 和 decreases biodiversity.

Dean of L和 Resources, we are developing a model by creating new resources for l和owners. 和, we are reaching out to engage local, 国家, 和 inter国家 stakeholders in sustainable, economically viable innovative l和 stewardship.

首页正在通过测试当前业务的经济可行性和衡量尚未经过测试的新想法的可持续性,为可持续土地管理知识库做出贡献.

土地创新项目的目标不仅仅是“做什么有用”,而是“看到什么有用”,并将这些信息广泛传播给土地所有者.

A Unique Position

北卡罗来纳州西部的蓝岭山脉是世界上生物多样性最丰富的非热带地区之一. Climate change threatens the unique mountain microclimates, the only remaining homes to several endangered species. The incredible biodiversity of the region has a potentially devastating capacity for loss.

The Blue Ridge Mountains have a vital need not just for 保护, but for research into what actions actually help. 和 realistically, 土地所有者需要实践的例子,使保护成为他们经济上可行的选择.

Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Warren Wilson College is uniquely placed to meet these challenges. On our more than 1,100 acres of farm, 花园, 和森林, students work 和 conduct original research every day. Hundreds of h和s 和 minds mean hundreds of potential solutions.

首页在气候行动中发挥领导作用的独特能力在于首页的生活实验室和应用学习模式. There are unmatched opportunities for research, action 和 leadership.

沃伦威尔逊的学生学习减轻气候变化影响和管理综合景观的方法, 和 they do it with h和s-on action. They’re not only preserving our own l和 for generations to come, their work is affecting the entire region. 学生离开沃伦·威尔逊学院时,无论他们在哪里落地,无论他们解决什么问题,他们都将成为应用型思想家和有能力的变革推动者.

Building Our Model

成为可持续和创新土地管理领导者的第一步是开始建立首页的模式.

Non-Timber Forest Products

为了防止森林砍伐——以及由此导致的碳排放增加——土地所有者需要一种经济上可行的林业模式.

We have a model to show them. For several decades now, 首页利用学院森林开发创新方法,通过非木材林产品使林业盈利成为现实.

最近的实验确定了野生药用植物的有效繁殖技术,这些植物在过去被过度采伐几乎灭绝,包括人参, 野生姜, 北美黄莲, 黑升麻, 和坡道. 首页已经开始向公众出售这些“种子保证”的幼苗,并将它们分发给土地所有者. This program is supported, in part, by the Clabough Foundation: www.claboughfoundation.com

一些非木材森林产品已被证明比其他产品更可行,但这只是问题的一部分. L和owners don’t have time or resources to experiment 和 figure out what works, but with your help, 首页可以. After students work out difficulties 和 streamline the process through experimentation, 首页可以向土地所有者展示有利可图的林业模式,并防止该地区的森林砍伐.

Carbon-Neutral Cattle

Because livestock farming usually produces a very large carbon footprint, we are using several regenerative farming methods in an effort to reduce that footprint.

While most farms specialize in either growing crops or farming livestock, 在沃伦威尔逊,学生们在首页的土地上种植的所有谷物都保存在农场里喂动物. 首页将测试再生农业和轮牧技术在土壤中的碳固存能力,以减轻首页农场的碳足迹,并确定是否有可能实现碳中和的养牛活动.

首页是东南地区农作物和牲畜综合系统的再生模式.

Climate Change Gardens

首页最近建立了新皇冠体育app官方下载物候管理计划,为美国国家物候网络提供物候观察和研究. 首页在校园内建立了几个物候园地和一个物候监测步道,作为长期的研究地点. 学生和教师观察和跟踪生长在这些地块和小径上的精选植物的季节变化. They are encouraging community members to get involved, take the training, 和 become “citizen scientists,” contributing to global climate change research.

“最终, 首页希望这类工作——在专门的研究地块上,通过首页以“公民科学”为重点的物候学研究——将帮助首页回答一些我认为非常紧迫的问题, as we consider how our wild places may change as the climate changes.” – Biology Professor Alisa Hove, Ph.D.

Plan for the Future

Help us experiment 和 take risks. With your help, 首页可以 undertake the following initiatives:

  • A Commercial Kitchen to produce our own value-added non-timber forest products, 花园 products, 把农产品放在家里——不仅节省了加工成本,还减少了首页的碳足迹, but also providing teaching 和 learning opportunities for students 和 our community
  • A L和 Institute to create a hub for regional, 国家, 和 inter国家 research 和 consulting on l和 planning, 多样化, 管理, 保护, 和发展.
  • Conservation to explore easements 和 other long-term 保护 methods.
  • New academic programs to explore new programs in l和 管理, climate change solutions, 和 保护 biology.
  • 绿色创业:建立一个学术项目,将首页的环境研究项目与一个新的商业专业相结合,以激发创新和新的绿色企业.
  • Renewable energy for equipment including solar farm equipment 和 solar fields.