Kentucky Natural Lands Trust (KNLT) protected more wildlands on Pine Mountain this spring on the Bell/Harlan County line. The 255-acre Blevins Addition expands Salt Trace Gap Preserve to 2,647 acres, protecting forested habitat at the headwaters of the Cumberland River.
The newly acquired wildlands protect globally significant forests that are known habitat for rare plants and animals, as well as headwater streams of the Cumberland River which has extraordinary biodiversity and is part of the most notable temperate freshwater ecosystem on Earth.
The Blevins addition adds nearly a mile of protected land along Kentucky’s portion of the unfolding 1,800-mile Great Eastern Trail, an important asset to the economic transition underway in the region.
Salt Trace Gap Preserve is within the original protection plan for Blanton Forest, the old growth forest project that launched KNLT nearly 30 years ago. The preserve is part of a matrix of conservation lands along Pine Mountain within Central Appalachia that protect a biodiverse and climate resilient landscape. KNLT continues to work with landowners, local communities and conservation partners to safeguard biodiversity, stabilize the climate and support communities.
We’re grateful for the support of individual donors, foundations, and partners. We thank the Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Field Office) and the Louisville Audubon Society for making this project possible.
About Kentucky Natural Lands Trust
KNLT is a nationally accredited nonprofit working to protect biodiverse and climate resilient landscapes in ways that benefit communities. Through partnerships with individuals, nonprofits, government agencies and businesses, KNLT has protected more than 57,000 acres of wildlands throughout the Commonwealth.
For more information on how you can help KNLT protect wildlands, visit KNLT.org. Projects like these would not be possible without the support of our donors! Join our movement and give today: DONATE NOW
5/31/2024 – KNLT Additional Blevins Press Release (PDF)
Cover photo: Salt Trace Gap Preserve – Pine Mountain ~ Ted Wathen, KY Documentary Photographic Project
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