Game Lands & Other Areas
Protection will provide these benefits:
Game lands and other natural areas can be protected by several state and nonprofit agencies, including the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, the NC Plant Protection Program of the NC Department of Agriculture and many nonprofit land conservancies. In addition, some of North Carolina's public game lands are privately owned and managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission by agreement with the landowner. When landowners want or need to sell their land or an easement, the property can be purchased at fair market value. Other landowners may be able to donate their land. Five-Year Goal: To protect 150,000 acres and complete natural heritage inventories for all North Carolina counties. Funding Needed: $240 million over five years for land protection and $15 million over five years for inventories ($51 million per year). If funding were available, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission estimated in 2004 that it could more than double its rate of land protection from 60,000 acres to 125,000 acres in a five-year period. Estimated funding needs are based on WRC's experience with recent land purchases across the state. The recommended goal was increased by 25,000 acres to account for the interest and capacity of other agencies, such as the NC Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection Program, and many local governments and conservation nonprofits in protecting important natural heritage sites. |
