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(RALEIGH) --In ten years, North Carolina has permanently protected more than 640,000 acres of parks, forests, farmlands, and such critical areas as Grandfather Mountain, Chimney Rock, and the banks of the Haw River. Yet, according to a new Environment North Carolina study, the state fell well short of a goal set by legislators and former Gov. Jim Hunt to reach the million-acre mark by December 31, 2009.
“North Carolina has made progress in conserving our forests and farmlands,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, State Director of Environment North Carolina and co-author of the report. “But we’ve got a long way to go to preserve our natural heritage.”
According to the report, Unfulfilled Promise: The Million Acre Initiative and the Need to Protect North Carolina’s Open Spaces, the latest figures available show that 643,209 acres have been protected under the Million Acre Initiative, less than two-thirds the amount originally pledged. In roughly the same time period, North Carolina lost more than one million acres of natural lands, more than any other state in the U.S. Land conservation advocates argue that protecting and expanding parks and natural areas provide opportunities for Tar Heels to bike, hike, fish and swim at a time when many are looking for low-cost recreational activities.
They point to the state’s $17-billion tourist economy, which the state Division of Tourism believes is driven first and foremost by the state’s scenery. And they note that preserving natural areas is a critical means of protecting the state’s water supplies.
“If we cannot protect the water where it originates we've lost the battle for clean water downstream, where the need for recreation and drinking supply increases,” said Jay Leutze of the Southern Appalachians Highlands Conservancy.
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