Georgia Mountain Trust Executive Director Speaks at Rotary Meeting

“Help us save the mountains,”

asks Kimberly at the Rotary Club of Jasper meeting.

“Every minute of every day one acre of farmland is lost to development,”

stated Georgia Mountain Trust Executive Director George Kimberly. The groups mission is to “permanently conserve the natural resources and scenic beauty of the North Georgia foothills and mountains” especially in Pickens and surrounding counties.

“Any land owner can help protect the beauty of nature through a Voluntary Conservation Agreement which is customized to the specific needs of each land owner,”

added Kimberly. This legal agreement between a landowner and MCTGA permanently limits uses of the land to protect its conservation value and land owners continue to privately own and manage their property and might receive significant federal and state tax advantages.

Georgia Mountain Trust’s signature project which got them started was a 900 acre area on Burnt Mountain conserved for public benefit in 2008. So, what is so important about Burnt Mountain? The mountain’s water runoff from rains and springs flows into Champion Creek which makes Grandview Lake which overflows to Long Swamp Creek, the major intake for water for the city of Jasper, and then becomes a tributary for the Etowah River.
Since 1991 Ga Mountain Trust.

The local trust is the only Georgia-based land trust selected to participate in the Southeast Land Trust Alliance’s Excellence Enhancement program due to their demonstrated excellence in quality conservation. Also, MCTGA was the first US trust to receive their renewal from the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

“The continued success of permanently conserving our natural resources can only be insured with volunteerism and financial support, added Kimberly the passionate conservationist. MCTGA does not have a particular dollar amount for membership but is open for any donation given to conserve natural resources. They are a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. To inquire about a possible agreement, join, donate or for more info contact George@mctga.org and visit www.mctga.org.

The Rotary Club of Jasper meets each Wednesday noon at Chattahoochee Tech for lunch, fellowship and “service above self” to the community and the world. Membership is open to the community and learn more about Rotary on the web at www.jaspergarotary.org.