...is the component of clock that keeps it ticking. Mainspring Conservation Trust is the component that keeps conservation ticking in western North Carolina. Our mission is to conserve the special places in the heart of the Southern Blue Ridge for the benefit of all, and we work with communities, partners, landowners, and supporters to build a sustainable future for our region.

As a land trust, we conserve both public and private land. We collaborate with willing landowners to place conservation easements on privately-owned property, as well as purchase land for public access to increase recreational availability, improve water quality, close gaps in tracts of protected land, and safeguard cultural resources. Since nothing in nature functions in a vacuum, we work in areas outside of land conservation, too.

Our Aquatic Biomonitoring program has been tracking water quality trends in the Little Tennessee River watershed for over 30 years, and has amassed one of the largest databases of its kind in the world. Since humans are a part of the waterscape and landscape, we also strive to preserve the cultural heritage of our region, including both Appalachian history and Cherokee history. Agriculture is part of our heritage here in WNC, and Mainspring's partnerships with local farmers helps to maintain the health of fields and pastures while reducing the financial burden of owning land. At its heart, our conservation work is for our communities, and so we collaborate with schools and host public events to spread awareness, understanding, and appreciation for this unique part of the world.

Your purchase supports our efforts to protect our special region and all the plants, animals, and communities that call western North Carolina home.