101 acres – Boone Gap Forest
Alexander County, Taylorsville, NC
In 2025, FCF purchased 101 acres of Boone Gap Forest, which is classified as an Exceptional Southeastern deciduous forest community dominated by old-growth Chestnut oak, Montane oak and hickory trees. Natural seeps and springs on the property are the source waters of the Lower Little River, a tributary of the Catawba River, which serves as the drinking water source for the City of Charlotte. This parcel in the Brushy Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge Mountains, abuts other lands protected under conservation easements. Its elevations range from 1700 to 2100 feet above sea level. An open portion of the ridge of this parcel, called Boone Gap, was discovered by Daniel Boone in the 1700s, and allowed passage through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Kentucky.
In Progress Land Protection
Below are land protection projects we are working on and that need funding support.
Boiling Springs Lake Preserve – Brunswick County, NC
This state-owned nature preserve protects diverse rare and endemic native plants, including carnivorous pitcher plants and Venus flytraps, and the endangered red cockaded woodpecker. Several parcels within the 6,000-acre nature preserve, ranging from less than one to over 12 acres, are still undeveloped. Acquiring these inholding parcels is crucial for effective and sustainable land management, including prescribed burns. FCF is working with the North American Sarracenia Conservancy and the North Carolina Plant Conservation Program to acquire these parcels from willing landowners.
Eagle Heights Circle – Caldwell County, NC
This 1,881-acre undeveloped woodland in the Brushy Mountains of North Carolina abuts 900 acres of NC Forest Service property, and 600 acres protected by a conservation easement. This large tract of undeveloped Southeastern temperate deciduous forest containing springs, streams, and waterfalls, is compelling for protection because of its size.
Funds needed: The asking price is $7,850,000.
268 acres – Darlington County, SC
Two tracks of undeveloped, managed long leaf pine forest abut the Sand Hills State Forest, which adjoins the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. These federal and state lands preserve the rare longleaf pine wiregrass ecosystem, the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, and are managed with prescribed burns. Acquiring these tracts would increase the longleaf pine habitat and serve as a buffer from surrounding development.
Funds needed: The asking price is $2,017,500.
114 acres – Bath County, VA
This 114-acre tract of mature oak, hickory and white pine forest is bordered on two sides by George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, and on the other two sides by land protected by Virginia Outdoors Foundation conservation easements. It is mapped as a Wildlife Biodiversity Resilience Corridor buffer and as having Outstanding Forest Conservation Value by Conserve Virginia.
Funds needed: The asking price is $279,000.
1,307 acres – Smyth County, VA
This undeveloped hardwood forest consists of 1,307 acres bordering Jefferson National Forest on two sides. The property was slated to be developed as a residential mountain and part commercial and agricultural development. With 1,000 feet of elevational change, it is a critical conservation property, mapped by Conserve Virginia as an Outstanding Ecological Core, and as having Outstanding Forest Values, and as a key Wildlife Biodiversity Resilience Corridor. The headwaters of Hungry Mother Creek traverse the property to Hungry Mother State park to the west.
Funds needed: The asking price is $3,500,000
Forestlands Conservation Foundation 