Land and Water Investments

A 2011 study by The Trust for Public Land found that North Carolina’s investment in conservation via these trust funds has returned four dollars for every one dollar spent. The value comes in the form of natural goods and services, such as cleaner drinking water sources, erosion control and flood mitigation. The study noted that additional economic benefits are found in the impact conservation has on jobs, businesses and industries related to agriculture, outdoor recreation and parks, military bases, tourism and more.

The Natural Heritage Trust Fund, created in 1987, provides funding for the acquisition and protection of important natural and cultural areas. Acquisitions include land that is home to rare plant and animal species as well as important wildlife habitats. It also covers the acquisition of sites that are significant to NC’s cultural history. To date, it has funded more than $310 million in projects.

The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, created in 1994, funds improvements in the state’s park system, dollar-for-dollar matching grants to local governments for parks and grants to local governments to improve public beach and estuarine access. It is the main source of funding for most state park improvements or acquisition of land to create new parks or expand existing ones. To date, it has funded more than $449 million in projects.

The Clean Water Management Trust Fund, created in 1996, makes grants to local governments, state agencies and conservation nonprofits to help finance projects that address water pollution. It covers land acquisitions that protect watersheds. It also funds other solutions to pollution, such as wastewater treatment or stormwater upgrades. To date, it has funded more than $950 million in projects.

The Agricultral Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, created in 2005, funds conservation easements on lands used for production of food, fiber and other agricultural products. It also supports public and private enterprise programs that promote profitable and sustainable agricultural, horticultural and forestland activities. To date, it has funded $11.6 million in projects.

In a show of force and unity, over 100 Norh Carolina sporting groups are calling on the General Assembly to restore critical funding for conservation. The groups, ranging from venerable statewide wildlife, turkey, waterfowl, deer, bear hunting organizations to trout, bass and local rod and gun clubs, are seeking investments in land, water and wildlife infrastructure in what amounts to less than 0.5 % of the entire budget.

The groups signed a joint letter which went to every member of the North Carolina General Assembly urging restoration of funding after last year’s staggering and imbalanced 90% reduction.

Here is a list of the groups and the letter to the North Carolina Geeneral Assembly. Click here to download a Word Document version.

North Carolina General Assembly                                                  March 14, 2012
16 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Re: North Carolina Sportsmen and Sportswomen Urge Your Support for Land and Water Investments

Dear North Carolina General Assembly Member,

We are hundreds of thousands of dedicated sportsmen and women from North Carolina. We span political parties and ideologies.  We are bird hunters and waterfowlers, trout and bass anglers, hunters and trappers.  What we share is a deep-rooted passion and concern for conservation and our sporting heritage.

State natural resource funds are essential to protecting critical habitat for fish and game, conserving wetlands and watersheds essential to clean water supplies, and ensuring public access for hunting and fishing.

The country’s original conservationists, hunters and anglers, are still on the forefront of conservation.  Our dollars spent on licenses, gear, and associated expenditures such as travel, bait and tackle, meals, and lodging has a tremendous impact on the state’s economy.  According to the most recent survey of the USFWS about the economic value of fish and wildlife based recreational activities, we contributed $4.3 billion to the state’s economy while supporting over 46,000 jobs.

For years, the General Assembly has recognized sportsmen’s economic input and commitment to fish and wildlife resources by fully funding the state’s four conservation trust funds.  Now conservation funding has been cut by a disproportionate 90 percent.  Fiscal responsibility is important, but it doesn’t mean abandoning successful programs that have protected tens of thousands of acres of game lands, wetlands, fishing habitat and farmland across the state.

In order to effectively safeguard key components of our economy, the sports and traditions that North Carolinians enjoy, and the health and integrity of some of our most important natural resources, it is essential that you restore a portion of these critical funds for the wild places that sustain our sporting heritage and economic impact.

This request comes to less than a half percent of the state budget, but the payoff is enormous.  For every dollar invested the state receives at least $4 of natural goods and services such as drinking water protection, flood control and cleaner air.  When you add in the associated benefits for our $22 billion a year travel and tourism and $32 billion agricultural industries, it is clear that conservation is crucial to our economy.  Please support this major economic driver by: 

•  Restoring funding for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) to $40 million, still well below historic levels. 
•  Removing the general prohibition on the use of CWMTF funds for land acquisition.
•  Maintaining the dedicated revenue source for the Natural Heritage Trust Fund and Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and oppose any diversion of those funds.
•  Funding the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund at $2 million.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
The below signed groups.