LAND PRESERVATION OPPORTUNITIES

Land trusts in N.C. vary greatly in geographic scope and function.  Land trusts permanently protect undeveloped land through donations of properties, purchasing properties at market value or at a bargain rate, assisting government agencies in acquisitions, or helping landowners establish legal restrictions on detrimental activity.  Some land trusts manage the land they own, assist others in managing land, or monitor restrictions which they helped to determine.  Below are listed many of the land trust organizations in N.C.  Some do not themselves hold lands.

Bird Island Preservation Society 
(Bill Ducker, c/o Sue Weddle, 706 N. Shore Dr., Sunset Beach 28468; 910/579-9754):  
	Working toward the preservation of Bird Island, a pristine, privately owned barrier island.  Raises funds and grassroots support toward the goal of state ownership and preservation of the island.  Publishes a newsletter.

N.C. Coastal Land Trust 
(The Cotton Exchange, 321 N. Front St., Wilmington 28401; 910/763-0332):  
	Works to preserve and protect important natural lands in counties of the coastal plain from the South Carolina to Virginia state lines.  Holds lands and assists local governments, individuals, and groups in land protection arrangements.

Conservation Fund - Southeast Regional Office 
(P.O. Box 374, Chapel Hill 27514; 919/967-2223):  
	Conserves land and water resources in cooperation with the private sector, non-profit organizations, and public agencies.  Assists in greenway establishment.  Publishes a newsletter.  The national office publishes the Land Letter and Common Ground newsletters and a report called Greenways for America.

Conservation Trust for N.C. 
(P.O. Box 33333, Raleigh 27636; 919/828-4199):  
	Helps communities, local and regional land trusts, and private and public landowners protect lands of significant natural, scenic, cultural, and recreational value.  Focuses on smaller, locally important natural lands, within a broad range of landscape types.  Serves as a source of information on the various land trusts across the state.

Eno River Association 
(c/o Margaret Nygaard, 4015 Cole Mill Rd., Durham 27705; 919/383-6837):  
	Advocates for the preservation of the Eno River corridor in Orange and Durham counties.  Sponsors an annual folk festival; proceeds are donated for land acquisition and preservation.

Highlands Land Trust 
(P.O. Box 1703, Highlands 28741; 704/526-3259):  
	Protects exceptional natural areas near Highlands in Macon County.  Holds land and provides related technical assistance to others.

National Committee for the New River 
(P.O. Box 1107, Jefferson 28640; 910/982-9090):  
	Works for the conservation and wise use of the natural and cultural resources of the New River valley watershed in N.C., Virginia, and West Virginia.  Conducts advocacy, public education, and research.

The Nature Conservancy - N.C. Chapter 
(Carr Mill Ste. 12D, Carrboro 27510; 919/967-7007):  
	Works with the Natural Heritage Program, N.C. DEHNR in identifying and protecting the state's rare plants, animals, and natural communities most at risk.  Owns and manages lands.

Northeast New Hanover Conservancy 
(c/o Paul Foster, 126 Beach Rd. S., Wilmington 28405; 910/686-0362):  
	Preserves, researches, and manages natural resources of Figure Eight Island and the coastal mainland between Howe and Futch Creeks.  Conducts advocacy and works with landowners on preserving their lands.

Ocracoke Preservation Society 
(c/o Kenneth Ballance, P.O. Box 491, Ocracoke 27960):  
	Preserves areas of Ocracoke Island, a coastal barrier island.

Pacolet Area Conservancy 
(P.O. Box 310, Columbus 28722; 704/894-3018):  
	Works for the thoughtful conservation, use, and preservation of the natural and cultural resources of the Pacolet area, primarily in Polk County but also in northern Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

Piedmont Land Conservancy 
(P.O. Box 4025, Greensboro 27404-4025; 910/299-2651):  
	Researches land use and conservation in the Piedmont region.  Conducts Natural Heritage Inventories in Guilford and Stokes counties and in the future, in Rockingham, Alamance, and Forsyth counties as well.  Preserves land in the Piedmont region by arranging easements, purchases, donations, and stewardship programs for landowners.  Publishes Piedmont Land Conservancy Newsline.

Sandhills Area Land Trust 
(c/o Marsh Smith, P.O. Box 1032, Southern Pines 28388; 910/695-0800):  
	Preserves remnants of the longleaf pine ecosystem, historic sites, and farmlands in the Sandhills region of south-central N.C.  Works with government agencies, holds conservation easements, and holds land.

Society for Masonboro Island 
(P.O. Box 855, Wrightsville Beach 28480; 910/256-5777):  
	Works to protect the eight-mile barrier island between Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach.

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) 
(34 Wall St., Ste. 802, Asheville 28801-2710; 704/253-0095):  
	A land trust organization which conserves critical land and other natural resources of the Southern Appalachian region, manages lands already protected, and promotes environmental education and research.  Works on the protection and preservation of the Highlands of Roan in N.C. and Tennessee.

Triangle Land Conservancy 
(P.O. Box 13031, Research Triangle Park 27709-3031; 919/833-3662):  
	Preserves and protects land in Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Orange, and Wake counties.  Publishes Triangle Land Conservancy  newsletter.