John Noel and his wife Melinda Welton of Nashville, Tennessee, are avid environmentalists with many ties to groups that are making a positive difference. So why does Dogwood Alliance hold a special place in their hearts?
 

“I’ve known Dogwood Alliance since their beginning 14 years ago, when they enlightened me about the threat of chip mills in our region,” says John, who owns an investment real estate business. “Dogwood is smart and tenacious, and has put issues like chip mills, paper production and forest destruction on the map. They have very successful methods for engaging users of forest products to help pressure forest products companies to improve their forestry practices and systems.”

For Melinda, an ornithologist, Dogwood’s work ties directly into her passion: saving the Cerulean Warbler. “The Cerulean Warbler is a beautiful blue and white bird that spends the winters in the mountains of northern South America and nests in the forested mountains of the northern Cumberland Plateau,” she explains. “Unfortunately, this species is declining more rapidly than any other eastern songbird and forest destruction on the breeding grounds is one of the primary causes of this precipitous decline. Dogwood Alliance’s first campaign to stop the proliferation of chip mills was an ambitious and bold undertaking. This campaign focused attention not only on the potential destruction of so much of our woodland, but also on the incredible biodiversity found in our southeastern forests.”

John and Melinda are no strangers to environmental leadership. John was a founder of the Tennessee Forest Council (which includes Dogwood Alliance) and led the 1995 fight to clean up the Pigeon River after 100 years of pollution from the Champion paper mill. He’s also president of the regional Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

“The environment is never a single issue,” says John. “It’s a kaleidoscope, where many different issues are inextricably linked, and Dogwood Alliance understands that linkage.”

Melinda has earned the Distinguished Service Award from the Tennessee Ornithological Society for her many leadership roles at the local and state levels. She has done extensive field work to survey a number of species that have helped save breeding areas for many.

“I really value the role that Dogwood Alliance plays in promoting sustainable forestry practices and I think that using market campaigns to compel companies to protect forests is an excellent strategy!” she says. “It takes a lot of us out there to try and turn the destructive forces in our economy into neutral or positive forces. Dogwood Alliance is there with effective tools and is making a difference. And that is why we support this excellent organization.”