Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance

The Swannanoa Valley Tree Alliance is an alliance between Asheville GreenWorks, Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, Black Mountain Parks & Greenways Foundation, and other stakeholders of our community forest canopy. We believe that the trees of the Swannanoa Valley might be one of the most important characteristics that defines local beauty and small town charm. Our trees – along municipal streets, in parks and natural areas, and in the front and back yards of homes – are our Community Forest.

Trees are the lifelines of our valley, beautifying the view corridor that we share, providing shade and privacy, creating the oxygen we breath and keeping our air cool and clean. Our trees protect soils from erosion and provide habitat and food for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.

• We facilitate nominations of the Treasured Trees of the Valley through the Asheville GreenWorks Treasured Tree Program.

• We bring public awareness of the trees in the Swannanoa Valley as valuable and irreplaceable and encourage stewardship of our community forest.

• We speak up for the trees when local governments are making decisions that impact our community forest.

• We inspire people to improve the world around them by planting native trees and replacing trees lost to development or disease.

OUR PURPOSE:

• Bring public awareness to these valuable and irreplaceable trees

• Encourage stewardship of our community forest by increasing property owners’ awareness of their role in maintaining the forest canopy

• Protect all trees from indiscriminate removal or irreparable damage during development

• Raise awareness of the diversity, sensitivity and importance of the tree canopy