Land for Tomorrow, an initiative to place a statewide bond referendum on the ballot to provide $200 million per year for five years for new conservation funding in the state, enjoyed tremendous support among legislators this session. Unfortunately, it met opposition that will keep it off the November ballot. Despite 75 House and 22 Senate co-sponsors of the bill, Governor Easley opposed the bond referendum. The governor, who has supported land and water conservation in the past, cited the lack of debt capacity as the primary reason for his opposition.

Despite this setback, Land for Tomorrow lives on as a conservation funding initiative. Advocates are proposing a 16-member legislative study commission to review current sources of funding for land conservation, historic preservation, and community economic development. The commission would make recommendations on how to meet the growing demand for funding in these areas. If approved, the study commission would seek public input and report its recommendations back to the General Assembly next March. We are hopeful that the study commission legislation will pass before the legislature adjourns.

The Conservation Trust and local land trusts will continue to lead efforts to increase conservation funding to save North Carolina’s best remaining natural lands before escalating land prices and increased development make it too late. Additional funding is critical to safeguard drinking water sources, protect fish and wildlife habitat, preserve working farms, repair and expand parks and trails, and prevent polluted runoff from contaminating rivers, lakes, and streams.

You can help protect at-risk land and water resources by donating to the Conservation Trust and/or your local land trust today. The Conservation Trust is a member of Land for Tomorrow’s steering committee and will continue to advocate for legislation that supports increased conservation funding across the state.

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Conservation Trust for North Carolina
1028 Washington St
Raleigh, NC 27605
Phone: 919-828-4199
Fax: 919-828-4508
Executive Director: Reid Wilson, reid@ctnc.org
Web page: http://www.ctnc.org

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