What is Stewardship?

A steward is someone who takes care of land, for the benefit of today’s and tomorrow’s generations. Like the pioneer in our logo, holding his staff, we take responsibility for what happens on our own land. Also, as citizens, we know that what happens in our community, our town, our county and watershed affects our land, water and air. Taking an even broader view, symbolized by the Native American in our logo, no human ever really “owns” land. The land was here before we were born and hopefully, will be here after we are long gone.

The Potomac Highlands, with its ridges and valleys, unique rock formations and native plants and animals, has a key role in protecting the soil, water and air in the Potomac watershed. The region stretches from the Piedmont lands of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle and our neighboring states of Virginia and Maryland, through the George Washington National Forest all the way to the border of the Monongahela National Forest. With proper care, these highlands can play a key role in mitigating climate change by keeping carbon in the ground.

Economically and cultural, our area has a proud tradition of small farm and forest ownership and historic towns. Stewards of the Potomac Highlands, a 501c4 nonprofit citizens group, networks in West Virginia’s northeastern counties to protect this heritage and support an environmentally and socially sustainable, locally-controlled economy. We will support and publicize existing group efforts, and may take the lead on certain issues. We want to encourage all who labor so faithfully on behalf of this little corner of Planet Earth.