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 |
