About PAC
Introduction and Background of PAC: 2/2/10
For the past 21 years, The Pacolet Area Conservancy has served as the local and regional land trust for Polk County and surrounding areas in North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. The non-profit, grass roots organization is dedicated to protecting the precious natural resources making up the land and water which impacts the beauty and health of our area. 1,500 community members actively support PAC.
Since its inception, PAC has been ahead of its time in the proactive protection of this region’s natural environment. Through the organization’s conservation efforts, more than 8,000 acres have been placed under permanent protection in the immediate area. PAC holds 62 conservation easements, which it monitors annually, along with 8 properties belonging to the State of North Carolina. The land trust also owns property covering nearly 450 acres.
Based in Tryon, PAC focuses on the thoughtful conservation of mountains, watersheds, forests, farms and greenspace. The land trust helps protect habitat for flora and fauna, as well as scenic and agricultural resources. PAC works with landowners to help decide what happens to their land in the future and how best to protect their properties’ natural resources in perpetuity. As water has become a critical issue, PAC is working to protect not only actual waterways, but also the buffers protecting them.
Regionally, PAC is a member of the North Carolina Land Trust Council and the Blue Ridge Forever 50,000 acre collaborative initiative. Nationally, PAC is a member of The Land Trust Alliance. PAC has dedicated itself to creating alliances and working relationships with like-minded groups, such as Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE), The Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Trust for North Carolina, Polk County Soil & Water, The Clean Water Management Trust Fund, The North Carolina Department of Agriculture & CS Plant Conservation Program, Save Our Slopes, and the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission, as well as local schools, realtors, Rotary clubs and other civic organizations, among others.
Based in Tryon, NC, PAC focuses on the thoughtful conservation of mountains, watersheds, farms, forests and greenspace. The land trust helps protect habitat for flora and fauna, as well as scenic and agricultural resources. PAC is particularly interested in creating protection corridors along waterways, atop and aside mountains, and in the greenspaces of the area’s horse farms.
PAC works with landowners to help decide what happens to their land in the future and how best to protect their properties’ natural resources in perpetuity. As water has become a critical issue, PAC is working to protect not only actual waterways, but also the buffers protecting them.
Recent Highlights of PAC’s conservation work:
2010: PAC begins the year having helped protect 8,000 acres of waterways, mountains, farms, forests, and greenspace in the foothills region.
2009: PAC permanently protects 466 acres of irreplaceable natural resources.
2009: PAC places 4 important area farms under conservation easement agreement.
2009: PAC receives prestigious Scenic Byways Natural Resource Protection grant.
2009: PAC receives Achieving Conservation Excellence grant.
2009: PAC Executive Director serves 2nd term on NC Land Trust Council Steering Committee as well as PublicAffairs Chair. Also 2nd term as Public Relations Co-Chair, Blue Ridge Forever 50,00 acre initiative.
2008: PAC’s Wilder Forest and PAC-protected Shuford Wildlife Sanctuary and FENCE Trails awarded NC Birding Trail status.
2008: PAC begins the process to prepare for Land Trust Alliance national accreditation.
2007: PAC places permanent conservation agreements on a record 1,247 acres in one year.
2007: Permanent protection placed on the 380-acre Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, an accomplishment that culminated an 8-year process.
2007: Creation and opening of the Shuford Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary Trail (with help from PCCF grant)
2007: PAC permanently protects 518 acres on 12 horse farms.
2006- PAC completes NC Clean Water Management Trust Fund Riparian Corridor Conservation Plan.
2006- The State of North Carolina conveys the Childers property to PAC, helping Pacolet River linkage.
2006- PAC Ecosystem Enhancement Program properties (protecting water) reach total of 6.
PAC's Board Members and Officers:
Board Officers:
Rebecca Kemp, President
Carole Bartol, Vice President & Development Committee Chair
Roberta Ratterree, Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair
Elizabeth Lamb , Secretary
Board Members:
Larry D. Boyd
Sherry Carter
John Gargiulo
Lorraine(Rainey) Greaves
Thomas Lytle
Catherine Macaulay
Suzanne Metcalf
Gerald Pack
Christel Walter
Staff:
Sally Walker, Executive Director execdir@pacolet.org
Brenda Brock, Office Administrator info@pacolet.org
Pam Torlina, Land Protection Specialist landprotection@pacolet.org
Under Contract:
Debra Hansborough, Accreditation Facilitator accreditation@pacolet.org
Office Volunteer:
Susan Kelley, 828.859.5060