Raleigh—Lawmakers approved a $128 million increase in funding
for the preservation of farmland, parks, and natural areas in the final budget
sent today to Gov. Easley’s desk. Environment
North Carolina applauded House and Senate lawmakers for the move, a critical
first step towards the $200 million needed yearly for land and water
conservation across the state.
“From the Smokies to the Outer Banks, North Carolina’s natural areas make it special. House and Senate lawmakers voted today to
help preserve our forests and farmlands for future generations,” said Elizabeth
Ouzts, Environment North Carolina State Director.
According to Environment North Carolina research, the
state loses more than 300 acres of forests and farmlands—an area the size of 20
Wal-Marts—each day. Over the last two years,
Environment North Carolina staff and volunteers have gathered nearly 10,000
signatures in support of increased land conservation funding to stem this rapid
loss of open space.
The state’s land conservation programs, the
Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, the Clean Water
Management Trust Fund, the Natural Heritage Trust Fund, and the Parks and
Recreation Fund Trust Fund, have successfully preserved hundreds of thousands
of farms and natural areas since their inception. But these programs are vastly underfunded in
the face of the state’s rapid development.
The budget recommendations would allocate $8 million
to farmland preservation, and authorize up to $120 million in borrowing, to be
paid back through revenue streams to the Natural Heritage Trust Fund and the
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.
“The legislature’s budget is a great first step
towards fulfilling the state’s promise to preserve one million acres of our open
spaces,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, Environment North Carolina Director. “House Speaker Joe Hackney deserves
particular praise for championing land conservation.”
Environment North Carolina, a member of the Land for Tomorrow coalition, had
advocated the state allow voters to approve a $1 billion bond, to be used over
five years, to go towards the protection of more than 700,000 acres of forests,
farmlands, parks, and natural areas.
