775 Haywood Road, Suite A
Asheville, NC 28806
AL, AR, GA, KY, NC, MS, SC, TN
The parks of the Southeast abound with superlatives. Here you can find the world's longest cave system (Mammoth Cave National Park) and the most visited national park in the country (Great Smoky Mountains National Park). Touring the parks will expose you to Southern Appalachia, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world, while also introducing you to this continent's tragic and triumphant history from Native American heritage, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement, and beyond. In a landscape long settled by people, NPCA's Southeast team works to protect the amazing resources of this region's national parks while striving to connect this area's stories and landscapes.
The Southeast staff have won significant, long-fought victories – advocating for 7 years to remove a large Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) from the Buffalo National River’s watershed; working for 6 years, across four congresses, to pass legislation to expand and re-designate the Ocmulgee National Monument as the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, and fighting for over a decade for a settlement agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, resulting in the largest cleanup and retirement of coal-fired power plant units in U.S. history. Read NPCA’s Southeast History Of Impact (PDF).
Southeast Regional Office Field Reports
These field reports provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest to our members and supporters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
See more ›Building on these successes, current priorities include protecting Cumberland Island National Seashore from a commercial spaceport; exploring sea level rise impacts on our coastal parks and barrier islands; organizing dozens of stakeholders across two states to research and build wildlife connectivity solutions – Safe Passage – to reduce animal-vehicle collisions in the I-40 Pigeon River Gorge corridor adjacent to the Smokies; establishing the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area in 19 counties across the state that contain an abundance of natural resources, historical sites, cultural diversity and recreational activities valued by residents and sought by visitors.
Join the Southeast in this rewarding work to protect this region’s unique parks.
Parks and Climate Change
Harsher storms and sea level rise have brought flooding to coastal parks and preserves. NPCA works to bring emergency funding to restore historic and cultural resources and visitor services and advocate for long term adaptation and mitigation solutions. (Photo of Fort Pulaski after Hurricane Irma by NPS)
Field Offices in the Southeast Region
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Asheville Field Office
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- Address:
- 775 Haywood Dr., Suite A, Asheville, North Carolina 28806
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More about the Southeast region
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Read more about Safe Passage: I-26 at the AT
NPCA at Work Safe Passage: I-26 at the AT Improving wildlife’s ability to safely cross Interstate 26 near the Appalachian Trail
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Read more about No More Hogwash in Buffalo National River
Victory No More Hogwash in Buffalo National River The state of Arkansas is closing an industrial hog farm and will prohibit future large-scale confined animal feeding operations in this protected watershed.
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Read more about Commercial Spaceports Could Threaten Canaveral and Cumberland Island
NPCA at Work Commercial Spaceports Could Threaten Canaveral and Cumberland Island The commercial space industry is an exciting and growing field. But the race for space should not put our national seashores at risk.
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Read more about Congress Fails the Public: Why NPCA Will Continue to Defend Clean, Safe National Park Waters
NPCA at Work Congress Fails the Public: Why NPCA Will Continue to Defend Clean, Safe National Park Waters In February 2017, Congress voted to dismantle the Stream Protection Rule, which would have safeguarded streams from pollution created by mountaintop removal and surface coal mining.
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— Kenny Martin
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Read more about Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Will Preserve Pivotal Sites from America’s Civil Rights History
Victory Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument Will Preserve Pivotal Sites from America’s Civil Rights History In the 1960s, Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most segregated places in the United States. Nonviolent protesters suffered brutal mistreatment in the struggle for equality and ultimately changed the course of history. Now, a new national monument will help preserve and interpret this critical chapter in the civil rights movement.
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Read more about Scary! Tips for Carving Up a National Park-Themed Halloween
Blog Post Scary! Tips for Carving Up a National Park-Themed Halloween Reflect your park-loving personality this Halloween with creative ideas for jack-o’-lanterns, costumes and snacks while learning some cool facts about our parks.
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Read more about Southeast Young Leaders Council
Resource Southeast Young Leaders Council The Southeast Young Leaders Council (YLC) is open to early career professionals 18-35 in the southeast region with a passion for advocacy and National Park preservation.
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Read more about An Uncertain Future for Our National Parks?
Blog Post An Uncertain Future for Our National Parks? NPCA and our supporters urge Congress to adequately fund our national parks and continue to address the $23 billion maintenance backlog so parks can thrive for generations to come.
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Read more about Go Fish: 4 Great National Parks for Wetting a Line
Blog Post Go Fish: 4 Great National Parks for Wetting a Line A keen angler can sniff out places to fish at nearly every national park. One staff member shares his top picks, from a backyard favorite to bucket-list wishes.
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Read more about 6 Parks That Will Benefit Most from a New Rule on Old-Growth Forests
Blog Post 6 Parks That Will Benefit Most from a New Rule on Old-Growth Forests NPCA supports the U.S. Forest Service’s plan to protect rare, old-growth forests and leave our largest trees standing for future generations. Here’s why and where to find these majestic trees.
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Read more about On the Road to Freedom: Understanding Civil Rights Through Our National Parks and Heritage Areas
Land Based Trip On the Road to Freedom: Understanding Civil Rights Through Our National Parks and Heritage Areas Join NPCA experts on this remarkable journey through some of the most significant sites associated with American civil rights. Along the way, we will have special opportunities to meet with NPCA partners, local historians and even some of the faithful activists known as foot soldiers who actively played a role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Throughout this transformative small-group tour, we’ll make our way from Birmingham to Memphis, immersing ourselves in the extraordinary stories and culture of this defining period in American history.
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Read more about 10 Parks Getting a Boost Through the Great American Outdoors Act
Blog Post 10 Parks Getting a Boost Through the Great American Outdoors Act 2020’s historic investment continues to improve our national parks. Read about some of the latest maintenance and repair projects and why NPCA urges Congress to extend the act’s funding to finish the job.
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Read more about Southern Appalachian Landscape Project Director
Staff Olivia Porter Olivia joined the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in May 2023. As the Southern Appalachian Landscape Project Director, Olivia is working to build a broad coalition focused on protecting and uplifting the unparalleled biodiversity and unique stories of the Southern Appalachian region. Her work is focused on conserving the landscape anchored by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Read more about After the Storms: 9 Signs of Hope on the Coast
Blog Post After the Storms: 9 Signs of Hope on the Coast Above-normal hurricane activity is predicted for this summer. What does this mean for national parks? See how sustainable practices and technology-based solutions are strengthening them amid climate change.
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Read more about Before the Gate
Podcast Episode Before the Gate Gated developments are changing the rural character of some of the first African American-owned lands in the country. Now, the Gullah/Geechee are fighting a new threat to their culture.
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Read more about Report: National Park Service Agrees Rosenwald Story Worth Preserving
Press Release Report: National Park Service Agrees Rosenwald Story Worth Preserving Jewish philanthropist and leader Julius Rosenwald partnered with African American communities to build schools across the South. Together, we can ensure their legacy lives on to inspire the next generation of righteous Americans.
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Read more about Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: A Beacon Worth Preserving
Blog Post Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: A Beacon Worth Preserving This month marks the 25th anniversary of the North Carolina icon being moved inland from the encroaching ocean. The famous beacon is now undergoing a major renovation to restore its 19th-century luster.
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Read more about Preserving Chinatowns: How Many Are at Risk of Being Lost?
Blog Post Preserving Chinatowns: How Many Are at Risk of Being Lost? The National Park Service has said Asian American and Pacific Islander history is “dramatically underrepresented” among registered landmarks and historic places. NPCA and other groups are seeking to correct that.
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Read more about Clearing the Air in the Smokies
Blog Post Clearing the Air in the Smokies Great Smoky Mountains National Park is starting to win its decades-long fight against dangerous haze, adding hope to the park’s horizon.
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Read more about Outreach and Engagement Manager
Staff Zana Pouncey Zana joined NPCA in 2023 as the Southeast Outreach and Engagement Manager. She works to build relationships that connect communities to park units across the southeast.
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Read more about Stamped in the Soil
Podcast Stamped in the Soil The Selma to Montgomery Trail is a national park site, but the rural camps where marchers found shelter are not — and they’re in disrepair. Can this history be saved?
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Read more about A Reporter 'On the Brink' at Cape Hatteras
Podcast Episode A Reporter 'On the Brink' at Cape Hatteras Near Cape Hatteras, the rising ocean is causing homes to collapse, creating devastating losses and dangerous conditions. Journalist Melanie D.G. Kaplan shares what she learned while reporting on the crisis.
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Read more about Memorializing the Truth
Podcast Episode Memorializing the Truth The brutal murder of Emmett Till in 1955 changed the course of history. Acclaimed journalist Christopher Benson has a unique perspective on this story and the importance of preserving it.
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Read more about Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 6
Resource Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 6 Strong state regional haze plans are critical to restoring clean air and clear skies for treasured places like Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains and Big Bend National Parks, and Caney Creek Wilderness Area. Unfortunately, states in EPA’s Region 6, also known as the South Central region, are failing to adequately cut air pollution impacting these parks and wilderness areas and our communities.
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Read more about Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 4
Resource Regional Haze Pollution in EPA Region 4 Strong state regional haze plans are critical to restoring clean air and clear skies to treasured places like Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately, states in the Southeast are failing to adequately cut air pollution impacting these parks and wilderness areas and communities.
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Read more about Ozone Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet Ozone Fact Sheet Ozone threatens the health of park visitors and contributes to the disease and death of park species such as the black cherry tree in the East and aspen and ponderosa pine in the West. National park ecosystems across the country are already showing damage from ground-level ozone pollution.
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Read more about Research Results and Mitigation Strategies
Report Research Results and Mitigation Strategies to Improve Wildlife Connectivity and Human Safety along I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge
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Read more about Park for Till: Standing in Places
Video Park for Till: Standing in Places The tragic murder of Emmett Till and the strength and resolve of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, catalyzed the modern civil rights movement. A national park site will honor their legacy and ensure that their story is never forgotten.
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Read more about Acting Southeast Regional Director & NPS Diversity Lead
Staff Eboni Preston Goddard, PhD Led by a call to action, Eboni is a management professional with a background in non-profit administration, program operations, partnerships, and workforce development.
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Read more about Proposed Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area
Fact Sheet Proposed Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area Where the stories are as rich as the land
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Read more about Park Talks
Regional Events Park Talks Join our NPCA community for virtual "Park Talks" to learn about our work and ways you can get involved.
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Read more about Mississippi and Alabama Field Representative
Staff Joshua Jenkins Joshua Jenkins is based in Birmingham, working in Alabama and Mississippi. He is supporting new park campaigns and heritage areas, building deeper connections focusing on the links between parks and community needs/desires.
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Read more about Conservation Biologist
Staff Steven Goodman As our Volgenau Wildlife Fellow, Steve ably lead our wildlife connectivity field research in the Pigeon River Gorge from 2018-2021 and we’re so happy to have him now on the Southeast team permanently.
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Read more about Southeast Regional Office Field Reports
Report Southeast Regional Office Field Reports These field reports provide timely updates and perspectives on issues of interest to our members and supporters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
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Read more about Associate Director, Communications
Staff and Media Personnel Kyle Groetzinger Kyle Groetzinger joined NPCA in June 2019 and serves as Associate Director of Communications. He leads communications strategy and media outreach efforts for the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Sun Coast, and Texas regions, along with the organization’s cultural resources and future parks teams.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about A Legacy Threatened
Report A Legacy Threatened NPCA's photo book shows the damage to parks caused by the 2017 hurricanes.
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Read more about Southern Appalachian Director, Southeast
Staff Jeffrey Hunter Jeff Hunter is the Southern Appalachian Director with National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in Asheville, NC where he works on issues related to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
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Read more about Campaign Director
Staff Chris Watson A Campaign Director in the Southeast region, Chris Watson works on landscape connectivity, beyond boundary protection, future parks/park expansions, urban parks and wildlands, and Native American cultural connectedness to the parks.
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Read more about Senior Advisor
Don Barger Don founded the Southeast Regional Office in 1992, and currently serves as an advisor — visiting, loving, and fighting to protect the special parks of this region.
Explore Our Parks
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A–H
- Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park ›
- Andersonville National Historic Site ›
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Site ›
- Arkansas Post National Memorial ›
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area ›
- Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument ›
- Blue Ridge Parkway ›
- Brices Cross Roads National Battlefield Site ›
- Buffalo National River ›
- Camp Nelson National Monument ›
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore ›
- Cape Lookout National Seashore ›
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site ›
- Charles Pinckney National Historic Site ›
- Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area ›
- Chickamauga And Chattanooga National Military Park ›
- Congaree National Park ›
- Cowpens National Battlefield ›
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park ›
- Cumberland Island National Seashore ›
- Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument ›
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield ›
- Fort Frederica National Monument ›
- Fort Pulaski National Monument ›
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site ›
- Fort Smith National Historic Site ›
- Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park ›
- Freedom Riders National Monument ›
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park ›
- Guilford Courthouse National Military Park ›
- Horseshoe Bend National Military Park ›
- Hot Springs National Park ›
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I-O
- Jimmy Carter National Historical Park ›
- Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park ›
- Kings Mountain National Military Park ›
- Little River Canyon National Preserve ›
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site ›
- Mammoth Cave National Park ›
- Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park ›
- Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument ›
- Mill Springs Battlefield National Monument ›
- Moores Creek National Battlefield ›
- Natchez National Historical Park ›
- Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail ›
- Natchez Trace Parkway ›
- Ninety Six National Historic Site ›
- Obed Wild & Scenic River ›
- Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park ›
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail ›
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P-Z
- Pea Ridge National Military Park ›
- President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site ›
- Reconstruction Era National Historical Park ›
- Russell Cave National Monument ›
- Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail ›
- Shiloh National Military Park ›
- Stones River National Battlefield ›
- Trail of Tears National Historic Trail ›
- Tupelo National Battlefield ›
- Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site ›
- Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site ›
- Vicksburg National Military Park ›
- Wright Brothers National Memorial ›
Preserve Our Parks
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