The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program has identified more than 2,000 Significant Natural Heritage Areas (SNHA) across the state. A Significant Natural Heritage Area is an area of land or water identified by the NHP as being important for conservation of the State's biodiversity. SNHAs contain one or more Natural Heritage elements - high-quality or rare natural communities, rare species, and special animal habitats. Additional sites are identified as inventory work progresses. Approximately 25% of these sites are entirely or partially in conservation ownership, including conservation easements. However, many remain privately owned and are unprotected from threats such as development. NC NHP works with many partners,
including state and federal conservation agencies, national conservation
groups, and the land trust community, to implement protection
for these ecologically significant areas. Through these partnerships,
and using fu nding
from federal sources and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund, the
Clean Water Management Trust Fund, and the Park and Recreation
Trust Fund, the most important areas are brought into protection.
Once a natural area is purchased, it is considered for Dedication
as a State Nature Preserve. Seventy state and privately owned
natural areas are now covered by dedication.
If a natural area is not available for purchase,
its ecological significance can be recognized through a Registry
agreement, which is a voluntary agreement with the landowner that
provides limited protection but recognizes the owner's commitment
to conservation of the area. In 2004 more than 300 natural areas
were listed as Registered Natural Heritage Areas.
NC NHP is actively involved in conservation
planning with local governments, as part of One North Carolina
Naturally. In addition to ecological information about natural
areas, NC NHP provides information about sources of conservation
dollars, potential conservation partnerships, and changes in policy
or legislation that will influence conservation opportunities.
As lands are brought into conservation,
the projects and their protected acres are included in the Million
Acre Initiative, an effort to place protect an additional million
acres of land and water by 2009. If you would like to know more
about this or other conservation efforts, contact NC
NHP staff.
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