We value:
*The clean water that springs up and flows from the Cherokee National Forest
*The scenic beauty of the mountains and forests
*The variety and mixture of life found in the naturally maturing ever-changing forest
*The opportunities to reinvigorate our souls reenergize our minds and rejuvenate our bodies in the sights and sounds and smells and tastes and feels of nature’s creation
*The opportunities of hunting, fishing, walking, cycling, picnicking and camping in this natural arena
CFV believes the forest needs ecosystem restoration focusing on:
1. Restoration of diversity in single-species monoculture stands resulting from past
management -- primarily pine plantations, off-site pine and old clearcuts.
2. Restoring fire-adapted ecosystems -- with emphasis on table mountain pine and
pitch pine forests and recognizing more research is needed about historic or
natural fire regimes.
3. Restoration of streams, water quality and riparian (stream side) land – improving
water quality and aquatic habitat (especially for brook trout), primarily by
reducing sediment from roads by decommissioning them or implementing Best
Management Practices (BMP) and addressing unmanaged recreation in the
riparian areas.
4. Restoring rare communities –disturbances such as balds and hydrology
such as in bogs.
5. Controlling non-native invasive species (NNIS), especially plants.
