Preservation News

Advocates Urge Protection Of Forests, Farmland, And Streams

As the new home of NCPIRG's environmental work, Environment North Carolina can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release. 

RALEIGH—According to a new report, North Carolina's Natural Heritage at Risk: How Reduced Funding for Land Acquisition Threatens Open Spaces, 65 priority protection areas, including more than 67,000 acres of open space, are at risk to development after severe cuts in the state's natural resource conservation programs. Today, environmental advocates urged House and Senate lawmakers to restore and expand funds for land conservation to preserve the state's natural areas.

"North Carolina's forests, farmlands, and wetlands make the state beautiful and unique," said Elizabeth Ouzts, state Director of NCPIRG and one of the authors of the report. "But this report shows that our natural heritage is too much at risk."

North Carolina's farmlands, green spaces, wetlands, and wild places are disappearing at the sixth-fastest rate in the nation. According to the USDA, the state's rate of development increased 60 percent between 1992 and 1997.

To protect the state's natural areas, the General Assembly created four different programs to fund land acquisition for conservation: the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, the Natural Heritage Trust Fund, and the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. In February, the budgets of these funds were cut by a total of 45 percent. As a result, 65 threatened areas eligible for funding during the 2001-2002 fiscal year do not have permanent protection.

"The natural resource trust funds for years have been a critical means of protecting forests, farmlands, and open space." said DG Martin of the Trust for Public Land. "Their health allows us to preserve natural areas in the state that would otherwise be lost to development forever."

According to the report, some of the most threatened areas in the state include:

• Apex Nature Park and Wildlife Habitat, which contains wetlands, floodplains, and native plant life. The Town of Apex has already protected 56 acres of the land, and has submitted a grant to purchase forty-three more acres. As a result of the funding cuts, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund had to deny the town's application. The area is one-mile from the proposed I-540 outer loop, and is highly desirable to developers.

• The wetland forest of Roanoke Island, which provide habitat for many wildlife. Developers are planning to build a multi unit housing development on a 46-acre tract of land on the west coast of the Croatan Sound. As a result of the February Funding cut, a grant promised by the Clean Water Management Trust Fund is not available to preserve this area.

• The Moss Family Farm in Stanly County, near the Yadkin River. The Moss Family wanted to sell development rights for their farm to help serve as a scenic buffer for a nearby camp. But with so little state funds available to buy the conservation easement, the family, in tough financial straits, had no choice but to put up a for-sale sign on their property.

In its first grant cycle of 2002, the Clean Water Management Trust Fund alone has received grant requests for 37 land and water protection projects across the state totaling over $36 million. The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund has received requests for over $9.5 million. These requests exceed what the trust funds are able to meet with even their projected levels of funding for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Advocates from across the state today urged lawmakers to fund the trust funds for the 2002-2003 fiscal year at the levels approved in last year's budget. Further, they encouraged lawmakers to find new revenue for increased funding to protect forests, farmlands, wetlands, and waterways.

"Protecting natural areas is essential to clean water and to clean air," said Susie Hamrick-Jones, of the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina. "It is our responsibility to pass on a healthy environment to our children and grandchildren. By choosing to act now, we ensure our natural heritage legacy will survive."