| Why Act Now?
Few states are as beautiful as According to the U.S. Census, our state has been one of the fastest growing in the country. Each year, an estimated 100,000 acres of working farms, forests and game lands have been gobbled up by development. More than 3,000 miles of streams and rivers still don’t meet state water quality standards.
Fortunately our state is a national leader in meeting such
threats to our natural heritage head on. Bipartisan legislative support has
given the state’s land and water conservation trust funds the financial
capability to make headway in every county in the state. Those efforts have saved trees, farms and unique natural and
scenic features of the state. They are protecting drinking water supplies and
public health. Conservation efforts have saved and created jobs in
resource-based agriculture, tourism, forestry, commercial and sports fishing.
Conservation buffers around military bases have been crucial to maintaining the
presence of those bases and their thousands of jobs. Unfortunately, current economic conditions mean such
progress is in jeopardy. In communities across the state, conservation projects have been put on hold to balance the
state’s budget. Critical landowner conservation agreements worked out over
years of negotiation are teetering on collapse. Over the next several weeks, legislative leaders will be
making critical budget decisions. They need to hear from people across the
state who believe it is important to continue conservation funding in next
year’s budget so that we may preserve critical land and protect our state’s
natural resources. Urge others to join the effort now to help preserve and
protect clean drinking water, working farms, forests, game lands and parks for
future generations to enjoy. It’s one of the smartest investments we can make. Contact Us If you have questions about Land for Tomorrow or if you
would like more information, please contact us at 919-403-8558, ext. 1033 or by
e-mail at info@landfortomorrow.org. |  |
