ARC OF APPALACHIA
Programs
Land Acquisition and Nature Preservation
Land Acquisition & Nature Preservation - In 2024, the Arc of Appalachia (Arc) expanded its nature preserve holdings by 11 properties and 795 acres. The Arc also supported a partner nonprofit, Wilderness East, in its purchase of four properties totaling 1294 acres. The Arc will purchase these properties from Wilderness East once grant and public funding have been achieved. All of these acquisitions further the Arc's mission of wildlands preservation. Over the organization's 30-year history, 173 separate land acquisitions have been consummated, establishing 33 preserve regions, nearly all of which remain actively stewarded by the Arc. The Arc acquired three properties by donation in Ohio: 37 acres in Hocking Hills (Grow donation), 25 acres in Knox County (Hellbender Preserve Expansion), 167 acres in Gallia County (Howell-Koeler Preserve), and one donation in Kentucky: 110 acres in Carter County (Chegeree Cliffs). One conservation easement was acquired by donation: 27 acres in Hocking County (Fry Easement). Through a combination of grants and private donations, the Arc acquired in Ohio: 80 acres in Perry County (Gailen Forest Reserve), 205 acres in Pike and Ross Counties (two projects expanding Tobacco Barn Hollow Preserve), 101 acres in Jackson County (two projects composing Sylvan Deep Preserve), and 43 acres in Scioto County that expanded the Gladys Riley Golden Star Lily Preserve. One of Wilderness East's four holdings in 2024 included a 1200-acre property in Greenbrier County, WV that will be transferred to the Arc in 2025. Land Stewardship & Hiking Trails - In 2024, Arc's Land Stewardship staff stewarded nearly 80 miles of hiking trails in the Arc preserve system. Trails newly opened to the public this year include the Resilience and Honeycomb Rock trail systems in Hocking County, a third firefly-viewing trail at Gladys Riley Preserve, and two new trails at Tobacco Barn Hollow in Pike & Ross Counties. The development of these new hiking trails was largely funded by the Clean Ohio grant program. Non-native invasive plant control continued to be a year-round task across the preserve system in 2024, with special focus on bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, autumn olive, and Chinese lespedeza. Arc staff continue to monitor and treat hemlock woolly adelgid, a non-native invasive insect in preserves with stands of Canadian hemlock. Research - Arc of Appalachia staff and volunteers continued to engage in several research studies across its preserves. These included an annual week-long bird survey in the Arc preserves; an ongoing timber rattlesnake habitat study at its Tobacco Barn Hollow preserve; and two bioblitzes, one in Killbuck Swamp Preserve in Holmes County, OH, and one at Wild Rock Canyon in Greenbrier County, WV.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$825.5KNature Literacy Education Programs
Education - In 2024, the Arc of Appalachia was committed to teaching nature literacy through workshops, courses, and educational articles provided to the general public, through a monthly series of free workshops for youths called "Nature is Neat," through maintaining nearly 80 miles of public hiking trails which facilitates direct learning, and through interpretive murals and one-on-one contact in the Appalachian Forest Museum at the Arc's headquarters. In 2024, the Arc attracted 140,542 visitors, a 45% increase from 2023's attendance. Numbers were calculated with the aid of headcounts, registration data, and car counters.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$486.1K
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved to Chario Inc. (d.b.a. Impala)