Inspire

 

​​​About SAWS

​​We care for wild public lands and build the people who will care for them in the future.

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Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS) is a conservation nonprofit that cares for wild public lands across the Southern Appalachians. Founded in 2010 in response to a growing need for wilderness stewardship, SAWS works to ensure that trails, wilderness, and public lands remain healthy, accessible, and cared for by future generations. 

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Public lands are essential to the health, well-being, and quality of life of our communities. More people than ever rely on trails, wilderness, and public lands to recreate, connect with nature, and find inspiration, yet the need for stewardship continues to grow. At the same time, there are not enough people, resources, or trained professionals to care for these places. While volunteers remain an essential part of the solution, lasting stewardship requires skilled professionals and a new generation of conservation leaders. 

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SAWS exists to ensure that wild public lands have the care and stewardship they need, today and for generations to come. We steward wild public lands, build the conservation workforce, and engage communities in stewardship through professional trail crews, wilderness stewardship programs, workforce development initiatives, volunteer engagement, education, and partnerships.

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Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, with offices in Johnson City, Tennessee, and Roanoke, Virginia, SAWS focuses its efforts on wilderness and remote public lands throughout the Southern Appalachian region. We work alongside public land agencies, volunteers, communities, and partners to care for landscapes that connect people to the outdoors.

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By protecting wild places today and building the next generation of conservation professionals and volunteers, we are working toward a world where wilderness is bountiful, cared for, and valued by all.