Conservation group presents Forest Service with community alternative.

In April, the agency proposed management actions for the Shope Creek Project, which is located five miles east of downtown Asheville in the Appalachian District of the Pisgah National Forest. The agency proposal included plans to log 68 acres of forest, clear five miles of roads, and improve access to the 1,500 acre forest.

At the community's request, SABP is assisting residents and forest users to develop an alternative proposal. To gauge public sentiment, SABP developed a brief online survey that examines the various goals of the Shope Creek Project. After analyzing the survey results, SABP and their partners developed a management alternative for the Shope Creek Project that reflects the values and concerns of those who use the forest.

“We’re confident that this new plan will satisfy the agency’s objectives, while meeting the needs of the community and those who value Shope Creek for its recreational opportunities,” said Chris Joyell, SABP’s Campaign Coordinator. “Now we asking the Forest Service to allow the public to comment on this proposal.”

The new proposal differs from the agency proposal in several key areas. The community plan advocates removing only the white pines that are not native to the forest, thus reducing the costs associated with additional road maintenance. The plan also calls for keeping the cleared areas open in the future to provide some meadow-like wildlife habitat.

The survey results also demonstrate overwhelming support for maintaining the majority of Shope Creek as an old growth forest. The forest currently contains over 100 acres of native forest that has never been logged.

"We have the potential of having rare and valuable old growth forest, right here in Asheville's backyard," said Hugh Irwin, conservation planner with the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition. "We may not see it in our lifetime, but our grandchildren will certainly appreciate the foresight."

The community plan contains detailed guidance on the control of invasive plants. Shope Creek currently hosts several aggressive non-native plants that threaten the survival of many of the forest’s native plants. Many survey participants expressed an interest in reducing the use of herbicide in the forest, volunteering to pull the exotic invasive plants by hand.

“Folks in the area aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty,” said Joyell. “SABP and our partners are willing to work with the agency to organize community work parties. People really care about this forest and they’re willing to roll up their sleeves to help.”

The survey was posted online in mid-June, and so far over 100 citizens have submitted responses. SABP will continue to make the survey available on their website (sabp.net), in order to reach a wider audience, and intends to share the new survey results with the Forest Service.

Contacts:
Chris Joyell, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project – 828.337.6927