Why Act Now?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over the next 25 years North Carolina's population will increase by about 50 percent to more than 12 million people. North Carolina, now tenth, will become the seventh most populous state — surpassing New Jersey, Michigan and Ohio.
The effects of population growth have already been felt. Over the last decade more than one million acres of natural and rural areas have been developed, or 100,000 acres lost per year. Between 1987 and 1997 North Carolina lost more prime farmland than any other state except Ohio and Texas. And for the first time since the 1930's, the state is experiencing falling forest acreage.
Fortunately for North Carolinians, a Constitutional mandate is already in place to help deal with these issues. North Carolina voters overwhelmingly approved Article XIV, Section V of our State Constitution in 1971, which mandates the conservation of our natural resources. The amendment says we must use "every appropriate way to preserve as part of the common heritage of this State its forests, wetlands, estuaries, beaches, historical sites, open lands and places of beauty." Land for Tomorrow builds on that Constitutional foundation for conservation. View the Land for Tomorrow brochure. (pdf 481 KB) WHY PROTECTING LAND IS IMPORTANT The quality of North Carolina's lands and drinking water are as important now as they were 400 years ago when English explorers declared what they had seen "to bee the goodliest soile under the cope of heaven." Much of the state's gross product is generated by agriculture, tourism, forestry, fishing and military bases. The future of jobs associated with these industries is in jeopardy. Our public health depends on clean water and air and places to exercise. 
Our quality of life and communities are enhanced by our state's parks and trails, places celebrating our history and the sheer beauty of the land. It's a quality that plays an increasingly important role in attracting new businesses to our state.
North Carolina's geographic diversity produces a special variety of native plants and animals that makes this one of the world's ecological "hot spots." North Carolina needs the investment of $1 billion over the next five years to protect and preserve its goodliest land. Every year it becomes harder and more expensive to protect the places that make North Carolina special. We must act now. |  |
