From the program's online home page, 

 those interested can quickly link to the map, 

 then zoom in on specific areas in a selected 

 community. Layers reveal critical features such 

 as habitats, water bodies and infrastructure. 

 Future updates will include statewide 

 greenways, canoe trails and boat access points. 



The map is an important planning tool, 

 Rogers says. "It clearly shows what has 

 been achieved through public and private 

 efforts. With it, multiple partners can identify 

 opportunities to protect large and small tracts 

 — or areas that connect conservation gaps." 



MONEY TALKS 



The state's conservation groups have 

 employed creative financing since tight budget 

 years have limited the state's purchasing power. 



Most land acquisition relies on state 

 programs, such as CWMTF. The Natural 

 Heritage Trust Fund and the Parks and 

 Recreation Trust Fund share annual proceeds 

 from the state's deed registry tax. The Farmland 

 Preservation Trust Fund has had limited 

 funding since it was established in 2000. 



Bill Holman, CWMTF executive director, 

 says this year's fully funded budget allocation 

 "will go a long way toward protecting our water 

 resources and making sure North Carolina has 



a healthy environment 

 and economy." 



Strong public and 

 private partnerships 

 forged through "One 

 North Carolina 

 Naturally" have helped 

 leverage funding 

 during the lean years. 



Projects are 

 described on the 

 CWMTF Web site. 

 Data from the analysis 

 of monitored tracts 

 across the state soon 

 will be posted. 



"There are real 

 success stories out 

 there," Holman says. 

 "The genius behind 

 the program is that 

 local communities are 

 engaged in determining 

 what is important to them." 



Some projects lend themselves well 

 to increasing public awareness, he says. A 

 shoreline stabilization project at Carteret 

 County Community College will demonstrate 

 innovative methods. "People will see the 

 methods and the results — more crabs, more 

 birds, more life. Students and other volunteers 

 will be involved with collecting data. Forums 

 will be held to talk about results." 



Holman, former DENR secretary, adds 

 "Clean water is the foundation of our coastal 

 economy. It is critical to protect natural and 

 cultural resources as we grow." 



Planning is key. "It's essential to include 

 economic and environmental concerns in 

 planning discussions to create communities 

 where future generations will live healthy and 

 prosperous lives," says Walter Clark, North 

 Carolina Sea Grant coastal policy specialist. 



North Carolina Sea Grant, he adds, has 

 resources that support "One North Carolina 

 Naturally" by helping communities develop 

 strategies to balance economy and ecology. 



"Our Coastal Initiative Program provides 

 research, education and outreach to assist in 

 growth management," Clark notes. 



In addition, the N.C. Coastal Resources 

 Law, Planning and Policy Center is designed 



to match local needs for legal and policy 

 information with researchers and students in 

 law and planning programs at the University of 

 North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as North 

 Carolina Sea Grant. 



Tremendous efforts — and an additional 

 stream of funding — are needed to realize the 

 million-acre conservation goal, Holman says. 



To that end, Land for Tomorrow — 

 a coalition of conservation groups, businesses 

 and citizens — is seeking legislative support for 

 a plan to finance land acquisition. 



The partners recommend that the General 

 Assembly place a $1 billion bond referendum 

 before North Carolina voters in November 2006. 

 The measure would help realize the "One North 

 Carolina Naturally" mission by bolstering the 

 state's land-buying power over five years. 



"If we are successful," says Kate Dixon, 

 Land for Tomorrow spokesperson, "the monies 

 could be used to leverage federal, local and 

 private matching funds, to build on the existing 

 trust funds, and help local communities create 

 sustainable jobs and a higher quality of life." 



At the end of the day, says Secretary Ross, 

 "One North Carolina Naturally" is about the 

 awareness that we the people are part of the 

 natural system. We the people need to take 

 responsibilities for our actions and do better 

 for our children and for a bright future. We the 

 people can't live apart from natural systems. We 

 are interconnected and dependent upon them 

 — and inspired by them." □ 



LEARN MORE ABOUT 

 'ONE NORTH CAROLINA 

 NATURALLY' 



For more information on "One 

 North Carolina Naturally" and open space 

 conservation efforts, go online to: 



• One North Carolina Naturally, DENR, 

 www. ncna turally. org; 



• Land for Tomorrow, 

 www. landtortomorrow.or" 



• The Nature Conservancy, www.tnc.org; 



• N.C. Coastal Federation, www.nccf.org; and 



• The N.C. Coastal Land Trust, 

 vvww.coasfa//andtrust.org. 



For a complete list of local and regional 

 land trusts, go to The Conservation Trust for 

 North Carolina, www.ctnc.org. 



Coastwcitch I Spring 2006 I www.ncseagran1.org 1 1 



