Nature and Climate as Economic Pillars for a New Appalachian Economy

retreat focus

The Appalachians stretch some 2,000 miles from Newfoundland to Alabama, providing habitat to multitudes of plant and animal species and home to approximately 22 million people.Mature and old-growth forests in the Appalachian region are key to biodiversity, carbon storage, and regional livelihoods. As the region recovers from extreme weather disasters like Hurricane Helene and seeks sustainable economies, what can new economic and conservation models in the region look like?

We know that nature-based solutions have the potential to strengthen the region, but as we seek to protect these lands, we must also value regional livelihoods and economies. What are the community economic opportunities at the  overlap between economic development, conservation, and climate? The goal of this retreat is to find innovative and scalable ways to center nature and climate as economic pillars for the new Appalachian economy. The retreat will focus on understanding common challenges, sharing best practices, building trust-based relationships, and finding collaborative strategies. 

The gathering is designed as an opportunity for thought leaders from multiple sectors to slow down together and exchange ideas in a beautiful natural setting. We will work not only on policy, financial, and management solutions but also on the relationships that underlie transformative collaborations and open new pathways toward the systemic changes we seek.  

Image credit: Appalachian Mountains Joint Ventures

Participant directory and Inspiration and Resources coming soon