The Legislative Short Session begins on May 9. This means we need to start now to let our legislators know that we want them to give the public a chance to vote for an additional state funding of $200 million per year for five years to protect places that matter in North Carolina.
In January, Land for Tomorrow traveled through parts of North Carolina to inspire volunteer involvment. And it worked! County Committees are forming all across the state.
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It's not just how many partners we have now (112!), or who they are (all types of organizations and local governments), or where they come from
(all over the state), but it's what they're doing! Some are setting up meetings with their County Boards of Commissioners; others are putting together photography projects.
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Places That Matter: Protecting Land Visible from Our Scenic Highways |
Most people in North Carolina are familiar with the beautiful views along our scenic highways, which allow us all to experience our state's beautiful landscape first hand. |
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The Blue Ridge Parkway at Linn Cove Viaduct. Photo from the NC Division of Tourism. |
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| North Carolina has 45 state scenic highways, and 2 national designated highways that show us the way to our most unique and precious places.
The Blue Ridge Parkway, an example of these places that matter, attracts more than 14 million visitors each year, which generates nearly $2.3 billion for the local economy. Many of our state’s citizens have come to associate the state’s mountains with the Parkway. | ||
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This photo of the scenic Upper Tar River is provided by the Tar River Land Conservancy, which conserves land and educates landowners about the importance and value of protection along North Carolina's Tar River. The Tar River Land Conservancy is working with volunteers in Granville and Franklin County to get the word out about Land for Tomorrow. |
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation , Bill and Nancy Stanback, Cemala Foundation, Marion Stedman Covington Foundation, Educational Foundation of America, Foundation for the Carolinas and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Foundation, Amy Grissom and David Cohen and Ruth Ann Grissom, Robert Wilson Challenge Fund, and others. View a complete list of supporters.
4705 University Drive, Suite 290, Durham, NC 27707
919.489.8129; www.landfortomorrow.org
Kate Dixon, Director; Marge Anders Limbert, Outreach Coordinator
Places That Matter: Protecting Land Visible from Our Scenic Highways
The beautiful areas seen from our scenic highways are not excluded from development and other uses. Because of this, Land for Tomorrow has recommended land visible from scenic highways as one of the nine types of places that matter in North Carolina that need protection.
For example, the protected land along the Blue Ridge Parkway averages only 800 feet wide. Much of the land adjacent to the Parkway is privately owned, and residential and commercial development is encroaching, threatening the scenic beauty treasured by millions.
Many North Carolina organizations realize they need to take action to help protect this land. Groups like the Conservation Trust for North Carolina and many local land trusts are working to acquire land and easements located in some of the more scenic areas.
Land for Tomorrow knows that the forests, farms and fields that are easily viewed from our scenic highways must be protected. We're recommending additional state funding to protect views along the parkway and other scenic highways throughout the state .
Working now to protect land visible from scenic highways will provide the following benefits:
- Preservation of scenic views for people to enjoy in both urban and rural areas;
- Protection of historic landscapes along scenic rural highways; and
- Creation of jobs and other economic benefits from tourism.
To protect these views, Land for Tomorrow has recommended a five-year goal to protect 50,000 acres visible from our designated scenic highways.
Land for Tomorrow is dedicated to continuing its efforts to secure state funding - $200 million per year for five years – to protect areas like those visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway. These scenic views, so rich in culture and considered part of North Carolina’s heritage, must be protected.
The Land for Tomorrow needs your support. Please take the time to get involved. This effort needs support at every level. Learn how to get involved and help the state protect these places that make North Carolina special.
Land for Tomorrow committees in nearly one quarter of our counties are convening to let Legislators know how important land conservation and historic preservation is in their area. Still more are forming every day. Find out how you can get involved and let your voice be heard.
Partners are writing letters to the editor, making presentations about Land for Tomorrow to local groups, and adding articles in their newsletters on the initiative. And more.... and there's a lot more to be done! Have a great idea? Tell Marge about it. Need an idea? Get in touch with us. We can help!
So back to the number of partners we have. We're happy that eight partners have joined since mid December - North Carolina Coastal Federation, Catawba Valley Heritage Alliance, Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Yadkin-Pee Dee Lakes Project, Columbus County, Carolina Canoe Club, Sustainable Sandhills, and the Guilford County Historic Preservation Commission. We hope to double the number that join between now and the next e-newsletter! Help us make that happen!