Uwharrie National Forest—An Ecological Gem in the North Carolina Piedmont Hunter Lewis Gold can be found in the Uwharrie River, but the surrounding landscapes of Uwharrie National Forest might be even more precious. This 205 km2 stretch of rugged, mountainous forested terrain (cover photo, Figure 1) between North Carolina's Davidson, Randolph, and Montgomery counties has been described as "a sanctuary of hardwoods, pines, and rocks" (Patterson and Powell 2006). The distinctive topography of these low mountains situated in the southern Piedmont of North Carolina makes Uwharrie National Forest home to a variety of plant and animal species more commonly found elsewhere (USDA Forest Service 2005, Perlmutter 2009, Grissom 2010, Patterson and Knapp 2016, Grissom 2019, Beane 2020). Native American rhyolite quarries, abandoned gold mines, relict populations of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) (Grissom 2010, Grissom 2019), rare sunflowers (USDA Forest Service 2005), and a population of montane longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) (Patterson and Knapp 2016) make the Uwharrie Mountains a place of unusual inhabitants with an interesting history. Designated by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, Uwharrie National Forest became one of the smallest national forests in the country (USDA Forest Service 2005). Still, despite its size, this forest is full of history and ecological diversity. Found within Uwharrie National Forest is a stretch of mountains that range in elevation from 150 to 350 m. Comprising part of the Carolina Slate Belt, the Uwharrie Mountains are comprised of steep bouldery slopes and narrow ridge crests (Daniel et al. 1996). Metamorphic and igneous rocks including rhyolite and slate are found throughout the Uwharries and evidence of twenty-seven prehistoric Native American rhyolite quarries has been found (Daniel et al. 1996, NCSS 1999). These quarries make the Uwharries a place of archeological significance for the southeastern United States and allow a glimpse into Native Americans' practices and the Indigenous history of the region (Daniel et al. 1996). Gold mines also can be found throughout the Uwharrie Mountains. The first discovery of gold in the United States took place in the nearby Reed Gold Mine, which sparked a hunt for gold in the Uwharries with gold being found in the 1800s. These mines are spread throughout the Uwharries and are no longer in use, but recreational gold panning still occurs (USDA Forest Service 2005). Uwharrie National Forest supports a rich archaeological history, yet the local biodiversity is equally interesting. The Uwharrie Mountains host a variety of rare landforms [End Page 1] such as the Badin Upland Depression Swamp, Roberdo Bog, and the Black Ankle Bog, the latter of which is an example of a hillside seepage bog. The Black Ankle Bog is home to the purple pitcher plant (Sarracennia purpurea) and a large breeding population of native amphibians, which includes the mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum) (USDA Forest Service 2005, Perlmutter 2009, Beane 2020). Throughout this national forest, one can also find the endangered Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii), the locally rare Carolina thistle (Cirsium carolinianum), and the southern anemone (Anemone berlandieri) (USDA Forest Service 2005). The Uwharrie Mountains stand out compared to most of North Carolina's Piedmont due to the presence of steep slopes which range up to 26 degrees (NCSS 1999). These steep slopes create microclimates that can support populations of plants more commonly found elsewhere. For example, a relict, disjunct population of white pine exists on a humid north-facing slope above the Uwharrie River (Grissom 2010, Grissom 2019). White pine ranged throughout the Piedmont region during the Pleistocene, but as the climate warmed during the Holocene, populations began to contract to only the most favorable habitats (Wendel and Smith 1990, Grissom 2019). The Uwharries are also home to the Gold Mine Branch montane longleaf pine forest, which is a rare forest type for this species, particularly after extensive logging during the 19th and 20th centuries (Peet 2006, Patterson and Knapp 2016). Longleaf pine is more commonly found along the coastal plain forests of the southeastern United States (Grissom 2010, NCFS 2015), yet a stand of around 400 trees exists near the Gold Mine Branch trailhead. Described as "the most atypical ecoregion for longleaf pine to exist" (Peet 2006), the steep slope and well-draining...