The Montreat Wilderness: A mountain treasure at risk. Conservation strategy for preserving biodiversity in a private wilderness area

This study investigates ecologically sound long range planning for the preservation of a wilderness area located on private wild lands. As background for planning, connotations of the term "wilderness" in different cultures at different times in history are discussed. Scientific, religious, cultural, and psychological responses to the wilderness experience by leaders in various eras provide insight into reasons for preserving wilderness. Quotations from leaders reaching back more than 3,000 years and continuing to the present put this question in a broad perspective.;Considerations of the history, physiography--climate, geology, topography, water resources--, demographics, and economics of the area provide background for this study. Environmental characteristics of the Montreat Wilderness are described including forest resources and past management practices.;Detailed discussion of three ecological principles which are considered to be of prime importance to sound ecological preservation planning follows. Principles selected are: (1) Island Biogeography, (2) Fragmentation of Habitat, and (3) Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration. Applications of these principles to wilderness conservation planning are made.;Using these broad ecological principles as underlying guidelines, a detailed conservation plan for the Montreat Wilderness is proposed with specific recommendations for immediate action.;The wilderness area which is the focus of this study is owned by the Mountain Retreat Association, Montreat, North Carolina, and is an integral part of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. This Montreat Wilderness is significant, not only for its typical mountain ecosystems, but also for the fact that it is contiguous with, or near, large wild land high mountain preserves which include the Asheville, N.C., Craggy Watershed, Pisgah National Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Mount Mitchell State Park. Together, these have the potential of forming a large "macropreserve". Sound principles of conservation of the Montreat Wilderness are, therefore, crucial to environmental preservation of this portion of the Appalachian chain.