The greater Cumberland region stretches over 400 miles from West Virginia to Alabama and represents one of the western-most extensions of the Southern Appalachians. The forests and waters of the Cumberlands are among the most biologically rich temperate-zone systems in the world, harboring an extraordinary number of plants, fish, mussels, salamanders, fungi, and other species, many of which are unique to the Cumberlands.

The Allegheny Plateau is another ecologically rich plateau to the north of the Cumberlands, covering much of west-central Pennsylvania, the southern tier of New York to the base of the Adirondack Mountains, and a portion of northeast Ohio. This area consists primarily of extensively forested uplands, including the Pocono Mountains and Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. Several major river valleys dissect the region, and the Finger Lakes of central NY drain the northern portion towards Lake Ontario.

• Both areas feature unique geology that has produced awe-inspiring river canyons up to 1000 feet deep with diverse habitats and some of the nation’s most biologically diverse lands
• Both areas have outstanding recreation opportunities, including world class hunting and fishing
• Both areas are highly productive for forestry, including some particularly valuable stock: the black cherry harvested on the Allegheny National Forest has made it one of the most economically valuable in the entire national forest system

Today, forests still cover much of both regions and high-quality habitats persist. However, many of the species and natural communities of the Cumberland and Allegheny Plateaus are imperiled because of increasing pressures from development and resource extraction, as well as persistent ecological stresses like invasive species, air pollution, and acid mine drainage. Especially notable conservation work has been accomplished in the Cumberlands in recent years using Forest Legacy, including the Walls of Jericho project in TN and now the Cumberland Mountains project in AL.

To learn more about the Cumberland Plateau, visit the Alliance for the Cumberlands or our member group the Southern Environmental Law Center. For more information on the Allegheny Plateau, please visit our member group the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.