Bald Head Island

Smith Island Land Trust, a subsidiary of Bald Head Island Conservancy located on Bald Head Island, has been given several properties on Bald Head Island by private owners for conservation purposes. Some parcels adjoin the marsh, while others are in the Maritime Forest or on the dune line which are nesting sites for sea turtles.

The Conservation Trust, at the request of Smith Island Land Trust, holds conservation agreements on these properties. The arrangement was made to give donors the assurance that these highly valuable properties will be preserved in perpetuity. The Smith Island Land Trust own the properties. The Conservation Trust visits the properties annually to monitor them to ensure the properties’ conservation values remain intact.

Bald Head Island is an area of exceptional ecological significance. The island contains one of the largest and best examples of the Maritime Forest natural community and includes extensive areas of dune, beach, and marsh communities. These high-quality natural communities support a rich diversity of rare plant and animal species. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program has designated Bald Head Island as a site of national significance, recognizing that the natural communities and rare plant and animal populations are among the highest quality in the nation.