As stated in the Smoky Mountain News, “The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is excited about building off its volunteer base … (to) help increase local stewardship of public lands and support healthy lifestyles for community citizens,” said Julie Judkins, community program manager”. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy recently announced its new program where they are deploying volunteer ambassadors to the ATC into trail towns all alone the trail!
What is this going to do for the AT you ask? Well, AT ambassadors will serve as community liaisons to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the local volunteer hiking clubs that maintain in the A.T. in and around the many trail towns along the AT. They are charged with bolstering volunteerism and stewardship of the trail at the local level. This means the ATC can reach the public more effectively now and gain more understanding about how important this trail actually is.
Not only is this trail important to hikers everywhere. But the ecosystems, the local watersheds, the environment and tons of plant and animal species all benefit from the AT and the land it maintains. As more and more land is being transferred to the national forestry and the ATC more and more endangered species of animal and plant life is being protected. Once the land is purchased and sold to the US forestry service it is no longer in danger of being developed.
This protects the land, the trail, the native plants and animals as well as the watersheds. In the spotlight now is Franklin, NC. Most all hikers know Franklin, NC as a very legit trail community. Recently the ATC announced that Mary Bennett was chosen to serve as the volunteer ambassador for the designated Appalachian Trail Community of Franklin. She is a 20 year resident of Franklin and hiker of the trail. She will be the one who is directly linked to the ATC at the local level.
Congrats to all the new volunteer trail ambassadors and to the ATC for such a genius step in protecting the trail and the land around it against further development. And for their continued passion for the trail and its hikers nationwide.
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