KNLT recently purchased 982 acres on the southern slope of Pine Mountain in Harlan County expanding our Salt Trace Gap preserve to 1,948 acres. This new tract of land is within the original preserve plan for Blanton Forest. KNLT negotiated the sale of this tract with two different generations of the family landowners. After 17 years of conversations we were finally able to purchase and protect this land.
The acquisition of this tract represents a significant conservation victory for our efforts to protect the 125-mile Pine Mountain Wildlands Corridor. The mountain is home to thousands of species of plants and animal, some found nowhere else in the entire world. It represents an important migratory route for neotropical migrant birds and monarch butterflies, as well as many other species. Additionally the Great Eastern Trail, a 1,800-mile hiking trail from New York to Alabama, is planned to pass through Kentucky along Pine Mountain and this tract is an essential link along the proposed path.
This would not be possible without our broad support base of individuals and key partners such as The Forecastle Foundation along with lead gifts from longtime supporters, Christina Lee Brown and Tom Dupree, Sr. We are very grateful for their vision to protect Kentucky’s wildlands.