The Grandfather Restoration Project includes a diverse group of stakeholders.
State and national natural resource management agencies involved in the project include the National Forests in North Carolina, North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Department of Natural Resources, National Park Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Local environmental conservation organizations include Wild South, Western North Carolina Alliance, Foothills Conservancy, Southern Area Wilderness Stewards, Land of Sky Regional Council, Friends of Wilson Creek, and the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. National conservation organizations with local presence include The Nature Conservancy and The Wilderness Society.
Special interest wildlife groups include Trout Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Quality Deer Management Association. Special interest recreation trails groups include the Southern Area Wilderness Stewards and the volunteer trails coordinator for the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.
Research partners include the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network, the Forest Service Southern Research Station, Forest Stewards, and Western Carolina University. The local wood-products industry is represented by Appalachian Designs.
Collaborative members discuss shortleaf pine restoration (Photo by Lisa Jennings)
Grandfather Restoration Project 