The Southern Appalachians are the biological crown jewel of the temperate world, a realm of misty coves and old forests that escaped the last glaciers and so became a refuge where life accumulated across the ages. The Great Smoky Mountains alone hold a diversity of trees rivaling all of Europe, and the region’s streams shelter more kinds of salamanders, fish, and mussels than almost anywhere on the continent.
The organizations here protect the cove forests and the clear mountain streams, defend the range against fragmentation, and restore the aquatic life that makes these waters globally significant. Their work safeguards a living library of biodiversity, assembled over millions of years and irreplaceable if lost.
Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion
92 organizations working across this landscape.
Alliance for Organic Integrity
Working for best practice certification of organic farming and processing across the globe
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with food systems. Based in Ashville, NC, United States...
Appalachian Voices
APPALACHIAN VOICES BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE LAND, AIR, AND WATER OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN APPALACHIA AND ADVANCE A JUST TRANSITION TO A GENERATIVE AND EQ...
Asheville GreenWorks
Asheville GreenWorks inspires, equips and mobilizes communities to create an equitable climate-resilient future.
Benton MacKaye Trail Association (BMTA)
To preserve, protect and maintain the Benton MacKaye Trail.
B Local Asheville + WNC
B Local Asheville is a community of B Corps with operations in Western North Carolina.
Blue Ridge Conservancy
Since its founding in 1997, Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) has permanently protected over 21,000 acres in Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey...
Blue Ridge Discovery Center
INSPIRING CURIOSITY, DISCOVERY, AND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH THE WONDERS OF THE BLUE RIDGE
Botanical Gardens at Asheville
The Botanical Gardens at Asheville is dedicated to the study and promotion of the native plants and habitats of the Southern Appalachians.
Bountiful Cities
Bountiful Cities promotes social justice and food sovereignty through urban agriculture educational programming, policy work, community gardens & coalitions.
Bounty & Soul
Bounty & Soul, founded in 2014, is an innovative, grassroots, community-based organization working to advance food and health equity by giving everyone a fair ...
BRAVO (Blue Ridge Adventures ~ Vision Optional)
BRAVO (Blue Ridge Adventures ~ Vision Optional) provides educational and enrichment opportunities for youth with blindness and low vision.
Carolina Climbers Coalition
To protect, expand, and preserve climbing access in the Carolinas and beyond.
Carolina Farm Trust
IT IS OUR MISSION TO STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS IN THE CAROLINAS, FROM PRODUCTION TO CONSUMPTION.
Carolina Raptor Center
Environmental stewardship, education, research, and rehabilitation of injured birds of prey
Catawba Lands Conservancy
Catawba Lands Conservancy (CLC) is a local, nonprofit land trust dedicated to saving land and connecting lives to nature in the Southern Piedmont of North Carolina....
Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, Inc.
HOW WE WORK The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is your local, on-the-water advocate and partner providing accurate, science-based information about your water and...
Chattooga Conservancy
TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE CHATTOOGA RIVER WATERSHED; TO ENSURE THE VIABILITY OF NATIVE SPECIES AND A HEALTHY HUMAN ENVIRONMENT; TO EMPOW...
CleanAIRE NC
Most air pollution is impossible to see, but the impact we feel is great. Pollution drives climate change. Climate change intensifies poor air quality. Dirty air ha...
Clean Water Expected in East Tennessee
CWEET works for healthy natural, diverse social and thriving economic environments in East Tennessee.
Clean Water for North Carolina
CWFNC promotes clean, safe water and environments for all North Carolinians, through organizing, education, advocacy and technical assistance.
Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina
Coastal Conservation Association South Carolina is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with freshwater ecosystems. Based in Columbia, SC, United ...
Color My Outdoors
to change the outdoor narrative to celebrate all people of color
Congaree Riverkeeper
CONGAREE RIVERKEEPER IS A TAX-EXEMPT 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION AFFILIATED WITH THE WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE, A GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF ON-THE-WATER ADVOCATES WHO PATRO...
Conserving Carolina
Our mission is to protect, restore, and inspire appreciation of the natural world.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
A 400 acre waterfront property dedicated to providing access to nature through diverse outdoor programs.
Davidson Farmers Market
The Davidson Farmer's market is a producer's market located in Davidson, North Carolina.
Davidson Lands Conservancy
DLC advances its mission through education and through four conservation pillars: land conservation, trails and greenways, urban forestry, and wildlife habitat.
Develop Africa
Develop Africa strategically empowers lives in Africa by providing educational opportunities and resources. We strengthen self-reliance so that individuals, familie...
Dogwood Alliance
Dogwood Alliance advances environmental justice and climate action by mobilizing diverse voices to protect southern forests and communities from industrial logging.
EcoForesters
EcoForesters is a non-profit professional forestry organization dedicated to conserving and restoring Appalachian forests through education and stewardship.
Engage Globally
We partner with traditional rural communities in Ghana to advance sustainable human development and environmental conservation.
Environmental Educators of North Carolina
EENC Advocates and provides education related to all environmental areas including justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in EE.
Environmental Paper Network (EPN)
The Environmental Paper Network (EPN) is a global movement of more than 350 civil society organizations working together to protect forests and communities.
Equal Plates Project
The mission of Equal Plates Project is to support local farmers in Western North Carolina and build community through scratch-made meals. We purchase from small farm...
Family Agriculture Resource Management Services
Helping Family Farmers Pass Down their Land
Forest Keeper / Copper Canyon Alliance
The Copper Canyon Alliance is a federal 501(c)(3) nonprofit working with Rarámuri (Tarahumara) communities to secure clean water and sustainable agriculture in their...
French Broad River Academy
TO BUILD CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY FOR A LIFETEME OF LEARNING, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP.
French Broad River Partnership
Broad-based interests work collaboratively to ensure the French Broad River Watershed is healthy for all.
Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Friends of the Smokies is an offical partner of the National Park Service.
Friends of the Reedy River
We conserve the land along the banks, minimize stormwater impacts and sedimentation, water quality monitoring, recreation resource development, and education.
George Masa Foundation
Providing young people with the tools and resources necessary to engage in creative and impactful strategies for conservation and climate action.
Georgia Forestwatch
Georgia ForestWatch, Inc. if the only non-profit organization devoted solely to the protection and restoration of Georgia's national forests. Established in 1986, w...
Great Whale Conservancy
HELP THE PLIGHT OF LARGE WHALES
Green Built Alliance
We’re connected to each other through the places we call home, but climate change is affecting the areas we live and love. It takes all of us to build the future we ...
Haywood Waterways Association
Haywood Waterways Association Inc is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with watershed / rivers / oceans. Based in Waynesville, NC, United State...
Ijams Nature Center
Ijams Nature Center is a 318- acre, non-profit nature center in the heart of Knoxville that works to connect folks of all ages to nature.
Latinos Aventureros
Empowering la comunidad through outdoor adventures, cultural enrichment, environmental stewardship, and health education in the Carolinas. Committed to language
Legacy Parks Foundation
To enrich and enhance community health and livability in East Tennessee by identifying acquiring, preserving, developing natural Assets for public use and recreation...
MountainTrue
We Are MountainTrue In January 2015, three Western North Carolina environmental and conservation nonprofits joined forces to become MountainTrue. The Environmental...
New River Conservancy
New River Conservancy is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with watershed / rivers / oceans. Based in West Jefferson, NC, United States of Amer...
North Carolina Outward Bound School
Changing lives through challenge and discovery.
Organic Growers School
Organic Growers School is building a vibrant food & farming community by boosting the success of organic home growers and small farmers in Southern Appalachia.