Max Howes, an AmeriCorps Project Conserve member, is returning to Polk County to serve a second 11-month term at Conserving Carolina’s southeast (Polk County) office.

Howes is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and his love of the state spans “from the ocean to the glorious Appalachian Mountains.” Howes graduated from Denison University with a major in environmental studies and a minor in Geosciences.

During his year of service in Polk County, Howes will be applying his skills toward reducing the impact of non-native and invasive plant species on public protected lands, which will lead to the restoration of native habitat. He will also be working with Conserving Carolina staff and volunteers to help restore the trail system at Norman Wilder Forest, where parts of the trail were destroyed by the landslides that occurred in May 2018.

Howes hopes to develop relationships with many community members and partners and, through education, generate an overall greater appreciation by the public of this part of North Carolina. 

Those interested in learning more about Conserving Carolina may visit conservingcarolina.org.

– Submitted by Pam Torlina