5 Organizations That Protect & Preserve Community Resources
From parks and trails to wildlife and cemeteries, there are a number of valuable resources worth protecting in communities throughout North America. Organizations like the ones listed here are devoted to advocating against harmful development, performing maintenance & upkeep, and getting information out to the local public so that these resources can continue to be enjoyed for years to come. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Groups That Maintain Local Resources
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Friends of Panthertown | Cashiers, NC |
| Friends of Wild Salmon | British Columbia, Canada |
| Friends of China Camp | San Rafael, CA |
| Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery | Philadelphia, PA |
| Friends of Wolf Creek | Mineral County, CO |
Wildlife Conservation Facts
- There are more than 1,000 species worldwide defined as endangered
- 4% of the mammals in the world are wild animals. 36% are human beings and 60% are farm animals
- The global wildlife population decreased in size by approximately 52% between 1970 and 2010
- 30% to 50% of all species are possibly heading toward extinction by mid-century
- Freshwater ecosystems are home to more than 100,000 known species of plants and animals
- Freshwater habitats lost 83% of their vertebrate populations between 1970 and 2014
- There are approximately 26,000 wild polar bears, but this population is expected to decline 30% by 2050
Why Does Nature Make People Feel Better?
5 Benefits of Parks
- Bring trees and other plants to urban environments
- Give people a place to be physically active
- Increase property values
- Protect and preserve wildlife
- Host community events and social programs
Things To Bring On Your Next Trip To A Park
Getting Hooked On Nature
In Depth
Though there are numerous large nonprofits and government organizations that exist to protect natural resources, many regional treasures owe their preservation to dedicated inhabitants of nearby communities. Few people are more strongly invested in safeguarding scenic and historical places than those who reside there. In no particular order, here are five groups defending and stewarding unique features of the regions they call home.
Starting us off at #1 is Friends of Panthertown, a community organization working with the U.S. Forest Service to maintain and conserve Panthertown Valley, a backcountry recreation area within Nantahala National Forest in western North Carolina. The group assists with upkeep on the Valley's sustainable trail system, performing regular maintenance including monthly work days with local volunteers.
Friends of Panthertown works to inform the public about conservation, outdoor recreation, and local ecology. The group organizes youth service learning opportunities and educational presentations and offers informational resources on issues like bear safety. The organization also provides guides for excursions within the park. Those wishing to assist in maintaining this natural area can combine outdoor exploration with service by volunteering for trail upkeep.
Those wishing to assist in maintaining this natural area can combine outdoor exploration with service by volunteering for trail upkeep.
At #2 we have Friends of Wild Salmon, a community organization working to protect the Skeena Watershed and North Coast region of British Columbia. Through demonstrations, lobbying, and education, this group opposes industrial projects that would pose environmental risks to the area. Its past successes include obtaining a ban on oil tankers along the North Coast, and blocking plans for a pipeline through the region.
FOWS works to inform the public about the ecological dangers of industrial endeavors in the region, such as open net-pen fish farms within coastal waters, and helps organize campaigns to stop harmful development. The group shares news about topics including relevant government policies and community actions in defense of the watershed. It also arranges educational events such as documentary screenings, and directs supporters to other informational resources.
Next up at #3 is Friends of China Camp, a volunteer group managing China Camp State Park in Marin County, California. Since 2012, when FOCC took on operational responsibility to save the park from closure, its volunteers have been leading tours and hikes, building and maintaining facilities, and handling upkeep on the grounds.
Since 2012, when FOCC took on operational responsibility to save the park from closure, its volunteers have been leading tours and hikes, building and maintaining facilities, and handling upkeep on the grounds.
FOCC hosts educational events to teach guests about the history and ecology of the area. The group also provides informational resources about China Camp, from its diverse wildflower species to the historical Chinese shrimp fishing camp which gave the park its name. FOCC manages all camping and picnicking facilities, and oversees recreational use of the land.
Coming in at #4 is Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historic graveyard for which it's named. The group works to restore the long-neglected cemetery to conditions suitable for visitation, by clearing overgrowth, removing trash, and performing maintenance. Volunteers help to repair monuments and uncover obscured grave sites within the burial ground.
FOMMCI's mission includes honoring the history of Mount Moriah and the Philadelphia region. The organization provides information about notable figures buried in the cemetery, from political figures to notorious criminals. FOMMCI also highlights the many veterans interred on the grounds, some dating back to the Revolutionary War; the cemetery includes a section administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, originally donated for burial of Civil War soldiers.
FOMMCI's mission includes honoring the history of Mount Moriah and the Philadelphia region.
We'll conclude with #5, Friends of Wolf Creek, a coalition seeking to preserve a key wildlife movement corridor in the San Juan Mountains. Formed to fight the proposed construction of a large residential development at the top of Wolf Creek Pass, the organization rallies public opposition to the project and mounts challenges in the courts.
Friends of Wolf Creek organizes events for education and fundraising, building support for conservation in the region. Gatherings like the Art for the Endangered Landscape celebration call attention to the wildlife and habitats of the area, and demonstrations galvanize local opposition to development within the Pass. The organization provides information on the progress of its court battles, and shares case documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
