Protecting
open space helps maintain our quality of life.
The
land we protect as undeveloped, open space affects our everyday life.
Parks offer a place to rest, play and learn. Working farms and forests
provide essential agricultural products. Historic homesteads and battlefields
allow us to remember our past and help us connect with each other across
the generations. Open space that surrounds waterways helps keep our drinking
water clean and protects us from floods. Wildlife areas provide habitat
for our non-human neighbors and offer endless opportunities to learn and
explore. Forested areas clean the air we breathe. Wide, open landscapes
help us feel free and refreshed. All the benefits of these areas combine
to determine our quality of life, and a high quality of life is important
to both the current residents of North Carolina and the corporations and
industries that would like to bring their business operations here.