The Conservancy began with a 1991 survey conducted by Lela McBride along with the Henderonville [[League of Women Voters]] to determine if the natural areas of Henderson County were worth protecting. The survey determined that the mountain bogs, dense forests, and scenic mountain peaks surrounding Hendersonville were valuable resources worthy of conservation efforts. In 1994<ref name="pln"> http://www.privatelandownernetwork.org/yellowpages/resource.asp?id=956 Private Land Owner's Network]</ref> the Natural Heritage Trust of Henderson County was formed and a year later it was renamed the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy.<ref name="history of CMLC"> [http://www.carolinamountain.org/?do=about/history History of CMLC]</ref> The organization immediately began working with local landowners to protect areas of Henderson and Transylvania Counties, with the support of local community members.<ref name="pln"> [http://www.privatelandownernetwork.org/yellowpages/resource.asp?id=956 Private Land Owner's Network]</ref>
