Statement of Mission

Wilderness East aims to protect the natural heritage of America’s Great Eastern Forest while fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world.

Our Board consists of many experienced preservation advocates and naturalists who help the Arc of Appalachia and other land trusts fulfill their land preservation goals. We provide a valuable service to our colleague nonprofits by buying selected, biologically-significant lands and then holding them long enough to allow the initiating land trust to raise acquisition funds from grants and private donors.

Wilderness East is rapidly developing an infrastructure to serve as a competent, experienced, and reliable holder of conservation easements in the heartland of Appalachia - southern Ohio, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.

Lastly, Wilderness East serves as a “Friends “ group for the Arc of Appalachia, assisting the Arc with the tasks of land stewardship, strengthening volunteer networks for both our organizations, and supporting the Arc’s rich offerings of outdoor education and forest literacy courses and events. Wilderness East is the primary leader of multiple one-day exploration hikes and tours that take place each year on the Arc of Appalachia’s preserves.