The video features a series of voices—staff, volunteers, community members, and advocates—who describe the Catawba Land Conservancy’s purpose and achievements. Over two decades the Conservancy has protected roughly 15,000 acres across 180 properties, focusing on water‑quality protection, wildlife habitat, and farmland preservation. A central strategy for connecting people to nature is the Carolina Thread Trail, a planned 1,500‑mile network of trails, greenways, and blueways that aims to serve over two million regional residents. Speakers cite research showing that exposure to natural areas improves children’s health and academic outcomes, and they highlight the rapid loss of green space—Mecklenburg County loses 10‑15 acres daily—underscoring an urgent need for more conservation. Community members share personal benefits of nature (stress reduction, recreation) and describe ways to get involved, from volunteering on stewardship projects to financial support. The overall narrative blends celebration of past successes, a call to action against accelerating development, and an invitation for broader public participation.
Chapters
If I can just stop and slow down and try to be present in the moment, and if I can get outside and connect to nature, that's what moves me.
Whether it be the healing powers of nature, whether it just be the tranquility, thinking about slowing your life down, I think nature provides that.
The Catawba Lands Conservancy's mission is to save land and connect lives to nature. Over our 20-year history, we've preserved about 15,000 acres on 180 properties, and our Our focus has generally been around land that impacts water quality, wildlife habitat, and then protecting local farmland. And then finally, a big part of our mission is connecting lives to nature, and our vehicle for that has been the Carolina Thread Trail, which is going to be a 1,500-mile linked system of trails and greenways and blueways that tie together over 2 million people in our region.
Studies show that kids who are exposed to natural areas have lower rates of absenteeism, lower rates of asthma and ADHD symptoms, and they do better academically. That's important.
You're looking at, based on satellite imagery, what was undeveloped in 1976 and then today what has been developed in some form and then projecting forward where that future development is likely to take. And it is quite alarming when you think about what could happen here in the Piedmont unless we do more things like land conservation.
There is urgency. Mecklenburg County loses about 10 to 15 acres of green space every day. So every day we have less area to recreate in, to enjoy.
I have no problem with development. Developments are good, but we need to balance.
Charlotte's a wonderful city. Our region is thriving. We're very, very lucky. But as we grow, if it's not thoughtful growth, so much of what we have will be destroyed. This is the main spot where I come to be outside.
Me and my friends love the Greenway. It's super convenient, really close to where I live. It's great to bike and run on.
But it won't be There are things that you can connect with with a conservancy, whether it's trails, whether it's land stewardship programs where you can go out on our properties and actually help us by volunteering. There's ways to get involved both from a financial opportunity to actually, you know, sweat on the ground.
It's who we are. Yeah, it's, it's not only who we are, it's what we do. It's who we were and it's who we will be.
Go hike, fall in love with the land, then come volunteer.
It's one of the few things that you can do that's permanent. Our work is forever.
