Saving North Carolina's natural heritage

At least 35 percent of natural areas with unique ecological significance in North Carolina are not permanently protected from development, according to a new report by Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center.

The report, “Saving North Carolina’s Natural Heritage,” examines inventories of the state’s natural heritage areas—those areas with unique or rare plant and animal wildlife, rock formations, waterfalls or other ecological marvels—in some cases found no where else in the world. Of the more than 2,100 such natural areas, over 830 are in private ownership and therefore not permanently protected from development. One hundred and eighty-five of the sites not permanently protected contain ecological features not replicated anywhere else in the country.

The report highlights areas across the state with special significance. They include Little Joe Mountain, part of the Brushy Mountains in Alexander County in Western North Carolina, where unique rock formations make this area both a popular hiking spot and a national rarity.

In the Piedmont, the Dan River Aquatic Habitat extends for 30 river miles and harbors many different types of fish, including six rare species, and is a favorite for paddlers in the region.

Near the coast, the North Minnesott Sand Ridge in Pamilco County is home to the storied North Carolina state tree, the Longleaf Pine, and the endangered Venus flytrap.

North of Wilmington in Pender County, the endangered Rocky Marl Forest is one of only two such swampy, limestone forests in the world.

Funding gaps endanger lands

These natural areas are not a comprehensive list of special areas in the state, since state officials have had funds to inventory only 69 of the state’s 100 counties.

Nearly 450 of sites inventoried, including such well-known sites as Grandfather Mountain, are partially owned by land trusts like The Nature Conservancy, or partially protected through conservation easements, in which the owner sells the right to develop the property.

The 838 privately-owned sites total hundreds of thousands of acres, at least 150,000 of which could be permanently protected from rapid development with substantial new land conservation funding over the next five years.

Moving toward adequate funding

Environment North Carolina, partnering with the Land for Tomorrow coalition, has called for an additional $200 million each year over the next five years to go the state’s existing natural resource trust funds to protect natural heritage areas as well as farmlands, wetlands, parks and other open spaces. The plan would protect 760,000 acres of open spaces in all, including 6,000 miles of rivers and streams.

In July, lawmakers approved a final budget that allocates an additional $128 million for the state’s natural resource trust funds as a first step toward Environment North Carolina’s goals.