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.
The Million Acre Initiative fell short because of insufficient
funding throughout its life--even in good economic times. To achieve its goal, the state should
have protected 100,000 acres each year on average. Instead, North Carolina cleared the 100,000-acre mark in
only one year, 2007.
The recession made matters worse. The board of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund--the
state’s largest land conservation program--awarded more than $65 million for
open space protection in 2008, but most of that money was reallocated to other
areas of the state budget. Last
year, the General Assembly put another $50 million into the Clean Water fund,
but the state has released only a small fraction toward land acquisition so
far.
The Million Acres Initiative helps to track and coordinate the
efforts of private land trusts and those of existing federal, local, and state
open-space protection programs. Data
for the report comes from the Million Acres Initiative’s annual report to the
General Assembly.
The
report makes several recommendations to address the protection shortfall. Chief among them, Environment North
Carolina urged the state to follow through as soon as possible on grant awards
already committed by the boards of the state’s natural resource trust funds,
allowing the expansion and creation of public natural areas to be completed
during a time of diminished property values.
“The
state should fulfill the promise of one million acres to ensure clean drinking
water; opportunities for Tar Heels to fish, hike, and swim; and a strong
tourist economy for generations to come,” said Ouzts.
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Examples of opportunities today to expand
North Carolina’s parks and trails:
ANSON, CABARRUS, CATAWBA, CLEVELAND, GASTON,
IREDELL, LINCOLN, MECKLENBURG, ROWAN, STANLEY, UNION: The vision for Carolina Thread Trail
is to preserve, protect and connect open spaces through hundreds of miles of
parks, trails and conservation corridors, touching 2.3 million people in 15
counties and both Carolinas. The Thread will protect natural areas and
wildlife habitat, increase recreational opportunities, improve quality of life,
and attract tourism and business.
Dave
Cable, Executive Director, Catawba Lands Conservancy, (704) 342-3330 x202
dave@catawbalands.org
AVERY: The 113-acre Elk Hollow Creek
tract features breathtaking cascades, and its waters hold
the genetically distinct Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, a relict
species left stranded in the highest elevations after the end of the last
ice age. Needing pristine and frigid water to survive, this
unique species is disappearing as development increases.
Jay
Leutze, Trustee, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, (919) 943-2664
jayerskine@hotmail.com
ORANGE:
Southwest of Hillsborough, Orange County has a long-term
vision of establishing a Seven Mile Creek Preserve on the Mountains-to-Sea
Trail corridor. The County recently acquired 13 acres for a future public
gateway into the Preserve and access to the planned Mountains-to-Sea trail, but
several key additions are needed for the 1,000-mile trail and to further the
vision for this area as a public recreation area.
Rich Shaw, Land Conservation Manager, Orange County,
(919) 245-2514
rshaw@co.orange.nc.us
ROWAN COUNTY:
The Land Trust for Central North Carolina has identified a number of key
land protection opportunities, including one to help protect Salisbury’s
drinking water supply.
Jason Walser, Executive Director, Land Trust for
Central North Carolina (704) 647-0302
jason@landtrustcnc.org
RUTHERFORD
COUNTY: Carolina Mountain Land
Conservancy purchased a 1,527-acre tract north of Lake Lure that was once part
of the 4000-acre “Grey Rock at Lake Lure” residential subdivision. Orlando-based Land Resources filed for
bankruptcy in 2008 and abandoned the development. Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy would like to transfer
the property to the state to expand Chimney Rock State Park.
Kieran
Roe, Executive Director, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, (828) 697-5777 x201
kieran@carolinamountain.org
