Hugh Irwin, Black Mountain, NC, is Landscape Conservation Planner for the Wilderness Society. In his current role and prior positions he has used geographic analysis and mapping as tools in the effort to obtain better protection for priority conservation lands. His work, including a book he coauthored, Return the Great Forest, envisions a connected network of conservation lands in the Southern Appalachians that integrates with and also helps shape human infrastructure, including the transportation infrastructure. He has a bachelor’s degree in physics and math, a master’s degree in forestry (forest ecology), and has worked on Southern Appalachian conservation issues for over 40 years.