NC's conservation future: Ambitious but achievable

North Carolina’s land trusts and conservancies have protected an impressive array of land and waterways since Land for Tomorrow was founded in 2005, despite a tight economy and state funding cuts.

On Monday, the group announced "ambitious but achievable" new goals for land and water protection. The targets are outlined in “Securing North Carolina’s Future: A Five-Year Plan for Investing in Our Land, Water and Quality of Life.” The report assesses recent conservation progress and details goals for protecting 399,000 acres of land and 1,750 miles of waterways across North Carolina over the next five years.

CTNC -- a member of the Land for Tomorrow steering committee -- was represented at the news conference by Executive Director Reid Wilson, who emphasized conservation's tremendous impact on North Carolina's economy.

Read more about the news conference and the report.

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CTNC donation widens Parkway land

The Blue Ridge Parkway has gotten a little bigger, thanks to a donation of land from CTNC.

We recently turned over the Roaring Fork Headwaters II property to the National Park Service. CTNC acquired the property last year with the intention of adding it to the Parkway's official corridor.

"In times when government has limited resources to protect critical land and water resources, the work of local conservation groups like CTNC is essential to our ability to safeguard the special charm of the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor," said Phil Francis, Parkway superintendent.

Read more about Roaring Fork Headwaters II property and how it fits into a collection of protected properties near Cumberland Knob.

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