WHY PROTECT THE PIEDMONT’S ECOLOGICAL RICHES? 

Goals and Objectives    Land Protection Funding    Conservation Planning
Land Protection Roles    Selecting and Prioritizing Conservation Efforts

The ecological riches of the Piedmont include the many natural elements such as native wildlife and plant species (some now rare or endangered), fertile soils, forests, rivers, streams, and wetlands that by thriving together create the setting of our daily lives.  It is these and other ecological riches that define the high “quality of life” enjoyed by the Piedmont’s communities.  They have also helped make the Piedmont an economic destination and home to an ever increasing population.

While it is easy to overlook the significance of these ecological riches to our daily lives, we must not.  If we do, we threaten the basic elements we all need to survive – clean water to drink, clean air to breathe, and fresh food to eat.  In colloquial terms, we foul our own nests.

 

As our communities continue to grow at unprecedented rates – the 2000 US Census predicted a 50% population increase in North Carolina by 2030 – they expand into the surrounding rural areas resulting in loss of open spaces, forests, and scenic areas, increased pollution of our rivers, streams and air, and threats to the viability of family farms. 

What does this mean to our daily lives?

  ¯  Loss of forests means poorer air quality since trees filter carbon dioxide, particulates and other compounds associated with emissions from sources like motor vehicles and industries;
¯    Loss of forests adjacent to streams means impaired water quality and higher drinking water costs.  Sediment, pollutants and excess nutrients from adjoining lands not filtered out before entering our rivers
     and streams must be filtered by water treatment facilities; and
¯    Conversion of fertile agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses means that access to locally produced fruits, vegetables, grains, meats and dairy products will be diminished. 

PLC works with willing landowners who voluntarily protect their land’s fertile soils, water resources, wildlife habitat, scenic beauty and other ecological riches that then benefit the public.  Between 1990 and 2006, these efforts enhanced the region’s “quality of life” by 

  ¯     Protecting 16 natural heritage sites that provide habitat for a variety of plant and wildlife species including several rare and endangered species;
¯     Protecting more than 13,200 acres of land, including over 51 miles of river and stream frontage;
¯     Increasing the acreage available for public recreational activities including canoeing, hiking, hunting, fishing, and bird-watching by more than 4,300 acres; and
¯     Protecting more than 2,800 acres of farmland within the region. 

Simultaneously growth has continued to impact the region. 

  ¯    Between 1990 and 2000, Greensboro grew by 1,595 acres per year and Winston-Salem grew by 2,416 acres per year while their populations increased by 22% and 30% respectively (Greensboro City Book, 2003);
¯    Alamance, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph and Rockingham Counties farmland decreased by 9% or 167,000 acres between 1974 and 1997 (US Census Bureau, 1997 Agriculture Census and Greensboro City Book, 2003); and
¯    Between 2000 and 2005, impaired stream miles increased from 166 to 892 (NC Division of Water Quality, 303(d) lists).

Today, the need for our region’s communities to balance conservation and growth and fully recognize the needs and realities of both is greater than ever.  The Piedmont’s “quality of life” that generations have enjoyed proves the land can sustain us.  However, neither its resources nor its capacity for regeneration are infinite.  If we do not act now, the consequences of our region’s growth will result in further degradation of air and water quality, diminishment of native wildlife, and the demise of the very heritage that has defined the region. 

PLC and our partners are working to protect the nature of the Piedmont, to balance preservation and growth.  Please join us as a supporter, a landowner, and/or a volunteer.

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LAND PROTECTION PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

As part of an in-depth strategic planning process in 2005, PLC’s Board set these goals for its Land Protection Program:

 

•  Identify and work with willing landowners to permanently protect native plants, animals, and natural communities; conserve farm land and areas with significant geographical features and scenic beauty; and

• Protect and improve the ecological function of our region, including its air and water quality, and biological diversity.

 To achieve these goals the Board identified the following objectives:

•  Work with willing landowners to help them reach their goals and   
   conserve private lands;

•  Complete county-based conservation planning including Natural     
   Heritage Inventories, Riparian Corridor Plans, and Farmland
   Inventories for all nine counties;

•   Encourage public servants and the corporate community to value
   natural and rural heritage when planning infrastructure
   development;

•  Practice pro-active land protection using all available tools;

•  Work with local governments to develop land use plans that consider
   ecological function of the region; and

•  Collaborate with community organizations that work to conserve
   ecological function.
   

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LAND PROTECTION FUNDING

The cost of land protection includes many of the costs associated with any real estate transactions such as fees for legal services, surveys and appraisals.  Additional land protection costs include biological and environmental assessments, staff time, and acquisition expenses.  While many landowners choose to donate all or part of the value of the development rights on their property, often it is necessary to raise funds to complete land protection projects.  PLC solicits pro bono services and raises additional funds from a variety of sources including membership gifts, private foundations, corporations, and government programs.

Raising additional funds can be the limiting factor in the successful completion land protection projects.  Therefore, PLC has created alternative funding options – a bank line of credit and the Land Protection Revolving Fund -- to provide short-term financing when a highly significant land protection opportunity is in danger of being lost due to insufficient funds.  In both instances, a plan to replenish the funds being used must be identified and board approval is required.  Line of Credit and Revolving Fund money cannot be used to cover PLC staff time related to the project.

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CONSERVATION PLANNING 

Conservation planning is a critical aspect of PLC’s Land Protection Program.  Conservation plans usually focus on specific natural resources in a particular area such as water quality in the Dan River, biological diversity of Alamance County, or agriculture in Surry County.  Regardless of the resource being studied, a conservation plan includes the following components: 

•  An assessment of data documenting the resource’s current condition;

•  An assessment of ecological, economical, political and social factors that affect the short and long-term condition of the resource;

• An identification of available tools or conservation strategies for the management of the resource; and

•  A prioritized list of recommended conservation strategies to protect or enhance the resource over the long-term. 

PLC creates conservation plans and relies on plans produced by our partners such as county/city based land-use plans, county-based natural heritage inventories, riparian corridor designs, watershed protection plans, recreational master plans, and farmland inventories.  PLC uses these plans to identify areas of high conservation significance that are threatened and have motivated landowners.  Conservation planning enables PLC to strategically deploy our limited resources and achieve the greatest possible permanent protection of our region’s ecological riches.

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PLC’S LAND PROTECTION ROLES 

PLC serves many roles when permanently protecting land and water resources. 

          Project Facilitator ~ PLC acts as a “third party” often ensuring that necessary documentation is conducted prior to transfer of property or the purchase of development rights.  However, PLC does not hold any legal interest in the property during the transaction.  PLC has served as a project facilitator on several projects including Lake Brandt Greenway, Muddy Creek Bluffs, and Mayo River State Park.  

            Partner ~ PLC works with another party to ensure successful completion of a conservation project.  PLC’s involvement as a partner can vary and may include holding or co-holding the long-term interest in the property with other partner(s).  Although in some instances, the partnership develops after PLC’s initial protection; in all cases without PLC’s involvement the long-term protection would not have been achieved.  Examples of conservation successes where PLC has served as a partner include Saddle Mountain, Meredell Dairy, and Haw River Headwaters. 

      Interim Steward ~ PLC completes necessary project documentation and holds a defined interest in the property temporarily.  PLC plays this role most often when time is of the essence and the intended long-term steward is a government agency.  PLC has served as an interim steward on many occasions including Ridges Mountain, Little Mountain, and Cedar Grove School Site.

            Permanent Steward ~ PLC completes all necessary steps, holds a long-term interest in the land, either as holder of the conservation easement or owner of the property.  PLC serves as permanent steward in the majority of its conservation successes including Patterson Farm, Bennett-Pelissier, Dan River Bends, Harding Riparian Area, and Long Point Preserve I and II.

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SELECTING AND PRIORITIZING CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Due to limited staff, time and funding, PLC must carefully weigh all aspects of each potential conservation project prior to accepting a role in it.  PLC has established policies and procedures to ensure that every potential project is evaluated for its conservation significance and the impact its successful completion would have on surrounding lands.  While PLC plays many roles and protects many types of land as defined by PLC’s four project themes of farmland, water resources, natural heritage, and urban natural areas, each conservation project must meet the following requirements:

•  Uphold PLC’s mission;

•    Be within PLC’s service area (unless PLC obtains approval to proceed from
   the serving land trust); 

•    Have a willing landowner;  

•    Benefit one or more of the PLC’s four project themes; and  

•    Be approved by PLC’s Board of Directors. 

Once a project is approved, it is ranked relative to PLC’s other conservation projects using three factors:  

• Conservation Significance (e.g., proximity to other protected lands, presence of rare and endangered species, integrity of property, identification as a priority in a conservation plan); 

• Level of Threat (e.g., the property is on the market, the property’s location, surrounding land-use trends, number of landowners); and  

• Readiness (e.g., funding is available/secured, landowner’s timetable, long-term stewardship is secured). 

By setting priorities, PLC tries to ensure that approved conservation projects are completed as efficiently and strategically as possible.