Shared Experiences, Connection, and Collaboration Amongst Land Stewards

Written by: Olivia Hall

Joining the ForestHer board recently has me reminiscing on the experiences that led me to this point. Though I am still in my early career, I already feel like I have grown ten-fold along the way. One of the things that I love most about the conservation community is how much we as individuals share experiences and fascinations. Connection comes easy, and with it, collaboration. Imagine the following:

From October through April, you can find 8 tenacious conservation professionals fighting their way through rhododendron thickets and up massive slopes, following the eastern and Carolina hemlocks all over Western North Carolina. These trees are declining due to an invasive insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), and the team is working to save as many as they can.  

It’s not an easy nor a glamorous task. This work requires long days (sometimes sun-up to sun-

down) and many nights away from home, resulting in exhaustion and an aching body. They come home dirty, sweaty, and sore. Trips, falls, scrapes, windburn, sunburn, stings, rashes, and muscle cramps are an everyday reality.  

Nevertheless, they persist. Then, and sometimes even accidentally, friendships are made. Bonds are created (and broken, then created again). They realize that inside jokes, commiseration, and a feeling that they are a part of something much larger than themselves should be in the job description. They begin to feel strong. They are a small group, but have a large impact, and treat over 10,000 hemlocks. 10,000 trees that because of the team, have a chance to regain some of their former glory.

While this story is personal to me and my work, it reflects an experience shared by many conservation professionals. For many, experiences like this serve as an introduction to caring for and stewarding the land, sparking a passion that ultimately develops into a lifelong commitment or career. This extends beyond those who pursue stewardship professionally to include landowners who embrace conservation as a personal responsibility.

It is this shared experience and collective passion for the natural world that unites us and strengthens our ability to make a meaningful impact. I am grateful to officially be part of this community, to continue building connections with like-minded individuals, and to collaborate in ways to achieve our shared goals for the land and the future of conservation.