FRIENDS OF PLANT CONSERVATION
...conserving North Carolina's imperiled plants in their natural habitat by supporting
the NC Plant Conservation Program...
the NC Plant Conservation Program...
"...wild flowers should be enjoyed unplucked where they grow." Theodore Roosevelt
:...if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars." Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature
FOPC Volunteer Coordinator
WELCOME TO OLIVIA !!!!
Olivia grew up and currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She always had an interest in the outdoors, but her passion for environmental sustainability began at Appalachian State University, where she received a B.S. in Sustainable Development with a focus in environmental studies and a minor in Biology.
A few internships at environmental non-profits throughout and after college made her realize she wanted to continue a career in environmental non-profits. She is finishing up a second 11 month term in AmeriCorps Project Conserve as the Community Engagement Associate at Conserving Carolina, which involved running the volunteer program.
Olivia is excited to start her position at Friends of Plant Conservation. In her free time, you can find her mountain biking, adventuring to swimming holes, seeing live music, or borrowing a friend’s dog for the day.
Say hello when you hear from her or see her!
Olivia grew up and currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She always had an interest in the outdoors, but her passion for environmental sustainability began at Appalachian State University, where she received a B.S. in Sustainable Development with a focus in environmental studies and a minor in Biology.
A few internships at environmental non-profits throughout and after college made her realize she wanted to continue a career in environmental non-profits. She is finishing up a second 11 month term in AmeriCorps Project Conserve as the Community Engagement Associate at Conserving Carolina, which involved running the volunteer program.
Olivia is excited to start her position at Friends of Plant Conservation. In her free time, you can find her mountain biking, adventuring to swimming holes, seeing live music, or borrowing a friend’s dog for the day.
Say hello when you hear from her or see her!
SIERRA CLUB - CLIMATE PARENTS PROGRAM (and grandparents!)
DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR PARENTS, THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE SIERRA CLUB APPLIES TO EACH OF US! THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO DISMISS AND HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR PLANT CONSERVATION TOO:
1. Become very familiar with the findings of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and what they mean for the world that today’s kids are growing up in. Parents have the uncanny ability to become issue experts in areas that matter to and for our kids. I know more about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and competitive league soccer than I ever would have thought possible. And granted, it’s fun to learn about what our kids are passionate about. But when our kids are threatened -- whether by bullying at school or anything else -- we step up and engage to help them, no matter what it takes. We know climate change is a major threat. The carbon pollution that is already in the atmosphere will continue driving severe weather events, sea level rise, species extinction, and more. It's important that we learn how to engage in local, state and even national government processes that build community resilience to climate change. Here are some suggestions for how to get started, and key questions to ask: What policies does your community have in place to guard against climate impacts, particularly those that are most prevalent where you live? Can you gather some local parents to review your city’s climate action plan, or to help develop one? You don’t need to be a public official to address these questions -- you just need to know how to get the attention of policy makers, to understand that there is strength in numbers, and to remember that parents and families are a strong moral force when it comes to demanding action to safeguard their communities.
2. When it comes to scaling climate solutions, think big -- like YES to 100 percent clean energy and NO to new fossil fuel infrastructure. Individual choices -- such as biking instead of driving or eating less (or no) meat -- are important. But, with our kids counting on us, we need to focus on what will really move the needle, and fast. When California -- the world’s fifth biggest economy -- passed a law committing the state to transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2045, it demonstrated that every other state could do the same. Big transformational change happens when people get involved in movements and campaigns to demand it. Below are examples of Sierra Club campaigns that need your help:
3. Engage with others. There’s something powerful and hopeful about finding like-minded people and deciding to make change together. If you think you may want to get involved in grassroots action to fight climate change, a key indicator of whether you’ll actually follow through is if you tell someone. We want to make that easy for you. The Sierra Club’s Climate Parents program exists to engage parents in organizing for solutions. If you want to work on any of the national campaigns outlined above -- many with local opportunities to engage -- we’ll connect you. If you want to work with one of our 64 chapters or more than 400 local groups, that’s also awesome! Reach out, and we can talk with you about what efforts most align with your interests. As hip as I try to appear to my teen and tween, I’m old-school when it comes to building relationships. Any person who is willing to contribute some time and energy is someone we want to know!
4. Hone your ability to lead, and sustain your ability to fight. Climate Parents and our friends at Moms Clean Air Force, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Climate Advocacy Lab collaborated on a social science study. We surveyed parents who were already engaged in some form of advocacy and those who were not. We wanted to know what variables were most important in determining whether parent swould be willing to ask their utility/power provider to increase investment in wind and solar energy. Would it be the survey takers’ familiarity with renewable energy that made the biggest difference, or their views on the threat of climate change, or something else? It turned out that the biggest predictor of whether someone would be willing to ask their utility to provide cleaner energy was their belief that doing so would make a difference. It was the survey respondents’ sense of their own efficacy. I felt motivated by that finding, because I’m hardwired to believe that if enough of us commit to action, we’ll win.
1. Become very familiar with the findings of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, and what they mean for the world that today’s kids are growing up in. Parents have the uncanny ability to become issue experts in areas that matter to and for our kids. I know more about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and competitive league soccer than I ever would have thought possible. And granted, it’s fun to learn about what our kids are passionate about. But when our kids are threatened -- whether by bullying at school or anything else -- we step up and engage to help them, no matter what it takes. We know climate change is a major threat. The carbon pollution that is already in the atmosphere will continue driving severe weather events, sea level rise, species extinction, and more. It's important that we learn how to engage in local, state and even national government processes that build community resilience to climate change. Here are some suggestions for how to get started, and key questions to ask: What policies does your community have in place to guard against climate impacts, particularly those that are most prevalent where you live? Can you gather some local parents to review your city’s climate action plan, or to help develop one? You don’t need to be a public official to address these questions -- you just need to know how to get the attention of policy makers, to understand that there is strength in numbers, and to remember that parents and families are a strong moral force when it comes to demanding action to safeguard their communities.
2. When it comes to scaling climate solutions, think big -- like YES to 100 percent clean energy and NO to new fossil fuel infrastructure. Individual choices -- such as biking instead of driving or eating less (or no) meat -- are important. But, with our kids counting on us, we need to focus on what will really move the needle, and fast. When California -- the world’s fifth biggest economy -- passed a law committing the state to transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2045, it demonstrated that every other state could do the same. Big transformational change happens when people get involved in movements and campaigns to demand it. Below are examples of Sierra Club campaigns that need your help:
- Ready For 100 is helping move cities around the country to 100% clean energy. More than 120 cities have already done so, with more committing every month. With several states also making commitments, 1 in 5 Americans now live in a place committed to 100 percent clean, renewable energy!
- The Beyond Coal campaign is working to move the US power sector off of coal and toward clean energy. As a results of their efforts, 289 coal plants either already retired or slated to do so by 2030. The goal is to get the remaining 241 coal plants to retire by the same date.
- The Sierra Club’s Dirty Fuels campaign is working to protect communities and public lands by stopping the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure that would lock America into decades more of climate-polluting oil and gas production.
- Clean Transportation for All is working to rapidly scale up the adoption of electric cars, trucks, and buses and to increase access to public transit.
- Climate Parents is working to move school districts (often times the largest energy consumers in municipalities) to 100 percent clean energy, which has the advantage of engaging families and youth in making transformative change.
3. Engage with others. There’s something powerful and hopeful about finding like-minded people and deciding to make change together. If you think you may want to get involved in grassroots action to fight climate change, a key indicator of whether you’ll actually follow through is if you tell someone. We want to make that easy for you. The Sierra Club’s Climate Parents program exists to engage parents in organizing for solutions. If you want to work on any of the national campaigns outlined above -- many with local opportunities to engage -- we’ll connect you. If you want to work with one of our 64 chapters or more than 400 local groups, that’s also awesome! Reach out, and we can talk with you about what efforts most align with your interests. As hip as I try to appear to my teen and tween, I’m old-school when it comes to building relationships. Any person who is willing to contribute some time and energy is someone we want to know!
4. Hone your ability to lead, and sustain your ability to fight. Climate Parents and our friends at Moms Clean Air Force, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Climate Advocacy Lab collaborated on a social science study. We surveyed parents who were already engaged in some form of advocacy and those who were not. We wanted to know what variables were most important in determining whether parent swould be willing to ask their utility/power provider to increase investment in wind and solar energy. Would it be the survey takers’ familiarity with renewable energy that made the biggest difference, or their views on the threat of climate change, or something else? It turned out that the biggest predictor of whether someone would be willing to ask their utility to provide cleaner energy was their belief that doing so would make a difference. It was the survey respondents’ sense of their own efficacy. I felt motivated by that finding, because I’m hardwired to believe that if enough of us commit to action, we’ll win.
2019 PRESERVE Work & Learn days
Kalmia carolina. Carolina laurel or sheepkill in Cedar Mountain Bog. c. K.Schlosser
NEXT OPPORTUNITIES -
Click the date for the one you are interested in: APRIL 16TH - Cedar Mountain Bog MAY 21st - Ochlawaha Bog MAY 22nd - Cedar Mountain Bog Preserve Work & Learn days are opportunities to slow down; wander through areas seldom seen; see, feel, and hear nature surrounding you. Work with a small group led by experienced staff or volunteers who share their knowledge and passion for protecting our imperiled plant species, and see some of those species growing in their natural habitat.
Most Work & Learn days are limited to 15 participants to protect the land and to provide you with an opportunity to visit, learn, and photograph these treasures of North Carolina. There are no trails and no amenities of any sort on Plant Conservation Preserves. These are not recreational lands and Workdays are intended to share the special nature of the Preserves, to provide help with invasives removal or other tasks necessary to maintain healthy ecosystems, and to promote their continued conservation. There is no public access to Preserves without a Permit. CURRENT NEWSLETTER - |
REDLAIR PRESERVE Redlair is a large preserve protecting Magnolia macrophylla, bigleaf magnolia, and Helianthus schweinitzii, Schweinitz's sunflower. There are a number of research projects underway on the Preserve. If you are looking for data related to one of the projects, contact us for information on how to reach the page(s) you need. Use the form below to request permission at access the research data. The Redlair Preserve button will take you to general information. The Redlair for Researchers button will take you to the Password Protected page. You will receive the password once you complete the Contact Form below WHAT WE ARE READING...
A Wilder Time: Notes From A Geologist At the Edge Of The Greenland Ice
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The Friends of Plant Conservation supports the efforts of the NC Plant Conservation Program to preserve rare plants in unique habitats throughout North Carolina. The Friends of Plant Conservation provide support through education, resource development, and advocacy. Specific goals of our organization include the following:
- Upholding the regulations of the Plant Conservation Program.
- Seeking stakeholder and other public constituency input when taking actions and positions.
- Recognizing that issues have human and social dimensions, not just environmental ones.
- Supporting and respecting the role of volunteers within the organization.
- Providing information to the public about imperiled native plant conservation issues.