The Root Cause Award went to the staff of Bent Creek Experimental Forest in Buncombe County for decades of efforts to promote good forestry. The original mission of Bent Creek was to restore lands from past mismanagement and promote ecologically sound forestry. Their research provides scientific advice on how to manage Southern Appalachian forests successfully and beneficially. 

Yancey County residents Russ and Stacy Oates were named EcoForesters of the Year for their active stewardship efforts on their family land, planting more than 500 saplings with the EcoForesters crew to encourage a diverse and robust forest composition.

EcoForesters is a non-profit forest management group in Asheville whose mission is to conserve and restore Appalachian forests through education and stewardship.