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Almost one in five plant and animal species in North Carolina are threatened or endangered. The major culprit is habitat loss and fragmentation caused by development of natural areas. Never before has there been a greater need to fund conservation, protection and restoration of wildlife habitat.
Recognizing this need, Congress in 2001 began providing annual funding to supplement existing state fish and wildlife conservation programs. Along with this new funding came the responsibility of each state and territory to develop a State Wildlife Action Plan (or SWAP).
The North Carolina SWAP was written to provide a conservation blueprint for agencies, conservation organizations, industries, and academics across the state to advance the sound management of North Carolina's fish and wildlife resources into the future.
 Land trusts are some of the many groups working with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to integrate SWAP into their conservation plans and funding strategies. Land trusts are using the plan to promote proactive conservation measures to ensure cost-effective solutions for “keeping common species common,” instead of reactive measures to save a species in the face of imminent losses.
Contact your local land trust to find out how the North Carolina State Wildlife Action Plan affects conservation in your area.
All photos courtesy NC Wildlife Resources Commission
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