GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 1999 



1 in its urban areas, and the loss of cultural and historic sites. 



2 As the State's population continues to expand, loss of open 



3 spaces to development will continue to increase, damaging North 



4 Carolina's economy and environment; and 



5 Whereas, the General Assembly further finds that 



6 additional permanent protection of lands for environmental 



7 protection and public use is needed to complement our State's 



8 economic growth and to meet our citizens' needs for generations 



9 to come; Now, therefore, 



10 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 



11 Section 1. The General Assembly reaffirms the strong 



12 desire of the State and its citizens to conserve and protect the 



13 lands needed to provide a high-quality environment for present 



14 and future generations, while also preserving, to the maximum 



15 extent possible, the liberty of each individual to pursue their 



16 interests. 



17 Section 2. Chapter 113A of the General Statutes is 



18 amended by adding a new Article to read: 



19 " Article 17. 



20 "Conservation, Farmland, and Open Space Protection and 



2 1 Coordination" 



22 "§ 113A-240. Intent. 



2 3 (a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to continue to 

 24 support and accelerate the State's programs of land conservation 

 2 5 and protection, to find means to assure and increase funding for 

 2 6 these programs, to support the long term management of 



27 conservation lands acquired by the State, and to improve the 



28 coordination, efficiency, and implementation of the various State 



29 and local land protection programs operating in North Carolina. 



30 (b) It is the further intent of the General Assembly that the 



31 State's lands should be protected in a manner that minimizes any 



32 adverse impacts on the ability of local governments to carry out 



33 their broad mandates. 



34 "§113A-241. State to Preserve One Million Acres. 



35 (a) The State of North Carolina shall encourage, facilitate, 



36 plan, coordinate, and support appropriate federal. State, local, 



37 and private land protection efforts so that an additional one 



38 million acres of farmland, open space, and conservation lands in 



39 the State are permanently protected by December 31, 2009. These 



40 lands shall be protected by acquisition in fee simple or by 



P^nP 2 ERCOO-SGZ-018.02 (5.9; 



