Alliances

[Malingerer]

Dusty, et al

I did a brief search and came up empty-handed so I'll pose the question: Has anyone, to our knowledge, attempted to cooperate with land conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy in order to both preserve natural and historical resources? Many CW sites seem particularly well suited to the interests of biologists/conservationists. For example much of middle Tennessee is underlain in karst topography which provides the necessary substrate for many rare calciphilic plants and some unusual ecosystems - the famed cedar glades of Stones River are highly valued by biologists. The sandhills of eastern North Carolina are likewise home to many unususal species and are considered an endangered ecosystem and are the sites of numerous skirmishes between Kilpatricks troopers and Hampton's boys in '65. Clearly this list could become very large with CW battles fought on praries, cypress swamps, marshes, barrier islands, longleaf pine forests, and mountain coves just to name a few more.
So... does anyone know if CWPT has ever joined with nature conservation groups as a way of combining both resources and outcomes? If not - well.... I just happen to know a professional biologist/ Civil War buff for hire. In all seriousness, this does strike me as an avenue worth pursuing.

[DougCooper]

Re: Alliances

Dusty, et al

I did a brief search and came up empty-handed so I'll pose the question: Has anyone, to our knowledge, attempted to cooperate with land conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy in order to both preserve natural and historical resources? Many CW sites seem particularly well suited to the interests of biologists/conservationists. For example much of middle Tennessee is underlain in karst topography which provides the necessary substrate for many rare calciphilic plants and some unusual ecosystems - the famed cedar glades of Stones River are highly valued by biologists. The sandhills of eastern North Carolina are likewise home to many unususal species and are considered an endangered ecosystem and are the sites of numerous skirmishes between Kilpatricks troopers and Hampton's boys in '65. Clearly this list could become very large with CW battles fought on praries, cypress swamps, marshes, barrier islands, longleaf pine forests, and mountain coves just to name a few more.
So... does anyone know if CWPT has ever joined with nature conservation groups as a way of combining both resources and outcomes? If not - well.... I just happen to know a professional biologist/ Civil War buff for hire. In all seriousness, this does strike me as an avenue worth pursuing.

Peter - as a matter of fact, there are some great examples of this, Mansfield, Louisiana being probably the most well known. A coalition of environmental, legal, preservation and slow growth groups have worked together on saving the battlefield and stopping the coal mine down there. Morris Island is another great example.

CWPT has lead the way on leaving no stone unturned and no interested party left out in these battles. We need all the allies we can get.

[dusty27]

Re: Alliances

Peter,

Here is another example of what you are talking about. This is the coalition that helped save the first day's battlefield at Chancellorsville. There are several environmental groups within the coalition.

http://www.civilwar.org/preservation/chancellorsville/coalition.htm

[Malingerer]

Re: Alliances

Doug and Dusty,
Thanks for your quick replies - I rather suspected that that was the case. Advocates for green space as well as recreational groups also seem like great potential allies. As the population grows and green spaces become a rarer commodity we all need to band together for the common defense.
Best regards,

[BenjaminLDavis]

Re: Alliances

As the population grows and green spaces become a rarer commodity we all need to band together for the common defense.
Best regards,

The best of all possible worlds ~ preserving the sacred land of the War Between the States,
as well as a home for the fox, great horned owl, and our good friend, the tufted tit-mouse!
Hope to see you again soon, comrade.

Yer friend in living history and birding, James C. Schumann

[ohiofed]

Re: Alliances

As a student working towards a degree in Landscape Architecture, I have stumbled upon a few organizations involved in historic landscape restoration/horticulture/land conservation. Here are a few sites.

http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/hli/currents/

http://www.ahlp.org/

http://www.historictrees.org/civilwar.html...Kind of a neat and informative site.

You also might want to check with the state division of Parks, Rec. and Wildlife, and see what they have to offer as far as a state funded battlefield or historic place goes.

I'm sure there are more groups out there but here are a few to that may be of interest.

Hope it helps.

[Malingerer]

Re: Alliances

The best of all possible worlds ~ preserving the sacred land of the War Between the States,
as well as a home for the fox, great horned owl, and our good friend, the tufted tit-mouse!
Hope to see you again soon, comrade.

Yer friend in living history and birding, James C. Schumann

Jim,
More birds (especially titmice) as well as more hallowed ground saved is a great combo.
Best regards,

[FlatLandFed]

Re: Alliances

Thanks, friend Isaac for the link -- http://www.historictrees.org/civilwar.html -- my brother-in-law had planted quite a few of these offspring along a running track at the Clemson middle school where he teaches. Now I'm planning to add some of these historic trees to our property here on the lonesome prairie.

Good thread, folks -- nice to be reminded how many groups are working together for preservation.

Paul Hadley