Conservation Planning
and Outreach

Strategic Conservation Planning: DENR’s proactive planning strategy is underway! The first assessment, focused on biodiversity and wildlife habitats, is undergoing scientific peer review to ensure its accuracy. This draft is available for viewing at http://ConserVision-NC.net. Beginning in January 2008, information sessions will be offered for planners and decision makers through regional organizations. To arrange a presentation or get additional information, e-mail Kim.Douglass@ncmail.net.

The strategic conservation plan will identify and prioritize e ssential high quality natural resources and locate crucial gaps in ecosystem networks. Geospatial data from multiple sources is being integrated to produce several assessment tools, including biodiversity/wildlife habitats, working lands, coastal ecosystems, recreation/open space, and water resources. The One N.C. Naturally conservation plan is designed to g uide future conservation and compatible land use planning efforts at local, regional and state levels. It can be used to inform funding decisions by the state’s four conservation trust funds and other organizations.

N.C. State Fair: To learn more about the Strategic Conservation Plan, come to the One N.C. Naturally exhibit in the “Our Land, Our Legacy” tent at the State Fair from October 12-21. At this interactive exhibit, visitors will use computers to view the biodiversity/wildlife habitat map and to “fly in” to various conservation areas around the state. Also featured this year: how partners have worked together to preserve the Needmore tract and successfully restore Wilson Bay. Naturally, DENR will have staff educating visitors and rewarding participants with “Nature Dude” tattoos.

Conservation Funding: The 2007 budget provided significant funding to enhance North Carolina’s conservation efforts:

• $100 million in Certificates of Participation will be distributed to the Natural Heritage Trust Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. These funds are an advance from future funding, and will have to be repaid.
• $20 million in financing for the Waterfront Access and Marine Industry fund, which will be repaid through the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund;
• $275,000 appropriation to expand the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program into the Pasquotank and Roanoke river basins;
• $100 million appropriation for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund;
• $8 million appropriation to the N.C. Agricultural Development and Conservation Trust Fund.

For a complete look at this year’s budget, please visit: http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/PDF/H1473v10.pdf

Virtual Workroom Now Open: The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) announces the release of its Virtual Workroom. Funded by grants from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the N.C. Association of Environmental Professionals, and primarily aimed at non-government environmental professionals, the NCNHP Virtual Workroom is a web-based GIS application that allows users to obtain information on rare species, natural communities and natural areas.

Prior to conducting on-the-ground surveys, environmental professionals often request that NCNHP staff provide them with a list of rare species known to occur near their project area. The Virtual Workroom allows users to instantly generate such a list without NCHNP staff assistance. The list includes all NCNHP records within two miles of the location specified by the user, and reflects the data as it currently exists in the program’s database.

Access the Virtual Workroom at http://nhpweb.enr.state.nc.us/nhis/public/gmap75_main.phtml. The login name “public” and the password is “heritage.” Before using the Virtual Workroom, users should review the User’s Manual (available through the “Help” link at the upper right of the Web page).