Compartmentalized trays holding soil and young trees
Image Details

The Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (SASRI) is a partnership of diverse interests with a common goal of restoring spruce ecosystems across the high elevation landscapes of the Southern Blue Ridge.

It is comprised of private, state, federal, and non-governmental organizations which recognize the importance of this ecosystem for its ecological, aesthetic, recreational, economic, and cultural values. The SASRI collaborative network determined a need to create a Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Plan at its annual meeting in August of 2013. While this document is not a regulatory document, nor does it create a mandate for action on any lands, we hope that it will serve as a guidepost for restoration and a benchmark for success. Therefore, the plan lays out an overarching goal followed by four supporting objectives. Additionally, the plan is designed to encourage future updates based on additional information and refining of targets.

Learn more at southernspruce.org

Contact Information

Female biologist sitting on forest floor searching through moss
Fish and wildlife biologist
Ecological Services
Expertise
Terrestrial animals - endangered species listing and recovery; ,
State coordinator of the Endangered Species Act state grant program
Area
NC
Asheville,NC

Species

Group of people hiking a trail with a neighboring ridge in the background

The northern flying squirrel is a small nocturnal gliding mammal some 26O to 3O5 millimeters (1O to 12 inches) in total length and 95-14O grams (3-5 ounces) in weight. It possesses a long, broad, flattened tail (8O percent of head and body length), prominent eyes, and dense, silky fur. The...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Subspecies

Programs

A rocky shoreline of a river. The water is calm. Mist and green branches line the river.
The Ecological Services Program works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, we work with federal, state, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to...
Program
Baileys Crossroads,VA

Facilities

Green plant with a small white flower
Asheville Ecological Services Field Office
Serving western North Carolina and southern Appalachia by conserving our most imperiled species and working with federal agencies to conserve plants, fish, and wildlife.
Conservation Office
Asheville,NC

Partners

Latest News

Person bent over in a field, placing a marker flag in the ground
Habitat Restoration
Red Spruce Restoration Kicks Off in North Carolina’s Black Mountains
More than 300 red spruce trees are planted in North Carolina's Black Mountains, helping restore a conifer tree that has suffered over the past century.
Two people standing in a forest looking up, one using binoculars
Wildlife Management
Snapshot: Applying a Gentle Touch to Improving Habitat for an Endangered Flying Squirrel
A team of state, federal, and private foresters and biologists head into the backcountry for North Carolina's Black Mountain to understand how to make habitat for an endangered flying squirrel better...within harming the squirrel.
Group of people walking along a dirt road past conifer trees and a scenic vista
Habitat Restoration
Snapshot: Experts Come Together to Develop Strategy for Red Spruce Restoration
Natural resource experts visit North Carolina's Black Mountains to Begin Developing a Strategy for Spruce Restoration.
Compartmentalized trays holding soil and young trees
Habitat Restoration
Snapshot: Red Spruce Propagation Lays the Foundation for Forest Restoration
Efforts to restore spruce forests in Southern Appalachian depend on a steady supply of red spruce trees for planting, and that's where places like the Southern Highlands Reserve come in.
Biologist pulling a red spruce tree from a trailer
Endangered Species Act
Snapshot: Red spruce planted at Whigg Meadow on Cherokee National Forest
Service and Forest Service staff join with volunteers to plant spruce trees at Whigg Meadow, on the Cherokee National Forest, a move to ensure a long-term food supply for Carolina northern flying squirrels.
Two people carry bags filled with young red spruce trees down a trail
Endangered Species Act
Mapping the sky islands of Southern Appalachia
Applying GIS technology enables the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to focus conservation efforts for the Carolina northern flying squirrel.