General Assembly guts key protections

The Blue Ridge Parkway brings millions of visitors to Mt. Mitchell, Looking Glass Falls and some of the country's most beautiful vistas. But last year, the General Assembly cut critical preservation funds by 85 percent and stopped key programs from protecting Blue Ridge scenery that runs along the Parkway

At stake: breathtaking Parkway views

Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway feels like a trip through a national park, just what its creators intended 75 years ago. We have state conservation efforts partially to thank for the incredible views — since 1986, the state has preserved vulnerable land for future generations.

But this legacy is at risk: Two-thirds of the land that surrounds the Parkway is vulnerable to logging, poorly-planned development and other harms. With state preservation funds run dry, priceless landscapes hang in the balance.

A legacy on hold

North Carolina has a long-standing history of preserving treasured landscapes for present and future generations to use and enjoy. In 2007 and 2008, your activism and our advocacy helped win unprecedented funding increases for preservation programs, which created Grandather Mountain State Park, Chimney Rock State Park and others.

When the General Assembly slashed preservation funds last year, they put that legacy on hold. Worse, they included a special provision in the budget to prevent the state from acquiring threatened land along the Parkway.

Together, we can save the Blue Ridge Parkway

Our staff have been knocking on doors across the state to educate Tar Heels about what's at stake.

We're also testifying in Raleigh, educating lawmakers, and shining a spotlight in the media on the need to restore protections for the Parkway.

But the real key to winning this fight is you. If enough of us speak out, we can restore our open space programs—and put them to work protecting our stunning Blue Ridge scenery.

Join our campaign, and urge your leaders to save the Blue Ridge, by clicking here.


Preservation updates

Report | Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center

Securing North Carolina's Future

North Carolina’s forests, farms, wetlands and other natural lands contribute to our health, economic prosperity and quality of life. Rapid residential and commercial development over the last several decades has resulted in the loss of millions of acres of these important lands. Recognizing the challenge, individual citizens, organizations and public officials across North Carolina have sprung into action – investing money, time and effort to protect places that matter across the state.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center

Conservation advocates set five-year goals

A tight economy and cuts in state funding have slowed land and water protection efforts across North Carolina in recent years. But the state’s land trusts and conservancies have accomplished much since the founding of Land for Tomorrow in 2005 … and now they have ambitious – but achievable – goals for the coming years.

> Keep Reading
News Release | Environment North Carolina

Representatives propose caution on fracking

Raleigh, NC—Reps. Mitch Gillespie and Mike Stone announced legislation today that would continue study of the controversial form of gas drilling known as “fracking” for another two years.  Environment North Carolina State Director Elizabeth Ouzts commended their cautious approach, and issued a statement in response.

> Keep Reading
Report | Environment North Carolina

Environment North Carolina 2011 Legislative Scorecard

The scorecard tracks ten contested votes from 2011 in the House and ten in the Senate on a range of bills that have largely become law, including those that push back a key deadline in the Jordan Lake clean-up plan, remove protections for a unspoiled Western North Carolina trout stream, and drastically limit the conservation of important greens spaces across the state, such as those that surround the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Find out how your legislators voted by downloading the full scorecard.  

> Keep Reading
News Release | Environment North Carolina

Nearly half of all legislators score a “zero” on the environment

Raleigh, NC— A record 55 representatives and 24 senators failed to cast a single contested vote in favor of the environment in 2011, a reflection of the repeated attacks waged by the General Assembly on the state’s air, water, and open spaces last year.  

> Keep Reading

Pages

View AllRSS Feed