Federal data is complete from 1998-2017. State and local data is complete from 1998-2020. In the tables and charts below, acres are allocated to each program proportionate to the size of the contributions to each acquisition. For example, if an acquisition had two contributions, and each program contributed equal dollar amounts, each program receives 50% of the acres. If you have questions or want to provide updated information, please contact Jessica Welch at jessica.welch@tpl.org.
Profile of State Program(s)
North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program: A Memorandum of Agreement between the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers established the Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) on July 22, 2003. The programs mission is to “restore, enhance, preserve and protect the functions associated with wetlands, streams and riparian areas, including but not limited to those necessary for the restoration, maintenance and protection of water quality and riparian habitats throughout North Carolina.” Revenue for EEP is derived from the Department of Transportation for offsetting impacts of transportation-infrastructure projects. In addition, EEP also leverages other funding sources for the initiative.
North Carolina Land and Water Fund (formerly Clean Water Management Trust Fund): The North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) was established by the General Assembly in 1996. The Fund provides grant assistance to conservation nonprofits, local governments and state agencies for the protection of natural, cultural and historic resources in North Carolina. The NCLWF funds projects that (1) enhance or restore degraded waters, (2) protect unpolluted waters, (3) contribute toward a network of riparian buffers and greenways for environmental, educational, and recreational benefits, (4) provide buffers around military bases to protect the military mission, (5) acquire land that represents the ecological diversity of North Carolina, and (6) acquire land that contributes to the development of a balanced state program of historic properties. The NCLWF is a division in the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR.) A nine-member board of trustees establishes criteria, allocates funds and approves grants, and establishes policies. Five board members are appointed by the Governor; two by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and two by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House. In 2019, per Senate Bill 381, “The Clean Water Management Trust Fund shall also be known as the ‘Land and Water Fund.’” In September 2020, the NCLWF transitioned to the new name.
North Carolina Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund: The Farmland Preservation Trust Fund was originally established in 1986, and in 2005, the Legislature renamed the program, The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. At that time, the description was broadened to include three grant areas: conservation easements, agricultural agreements and programs that develop sustainable or viable agriculture. The Commissioner of Agriculture administers the Trust Fund and a 19-member advisory committee was established to help direct funds and the application process. Revenue is derived from annual allocations from the General Fund.
North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund: The Natural Heritage Trust Fund was established in 1987 and provides funding to select state agencies for the acquisition of important natural areas to conserve the state’s ecological diversity and cultural heritage, and to inventory the state’s natural heritage resources. A twelve-member appointed Board of Trustees and the Natural Heritage Program in the Office of Conservation & Community Affairs in DENR administer the fund and award grants. Revenue is generated by $10 of each vanity license plate sale.
North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund: On July 16, 1994, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to fund improvements in the state’s park system, and to provide grants for local governments and to increase the public’s access to beaches. At the same time, The Parks and Recreation Authority, an eleven-member appointed board, was also created to allocate funds from PARTF to the state parks and to the grants program for local governments. PARTF receives a portion of custom license plate sales revenue.
The Trust Fund is allocated in three ways:
- 65 percent to the state parks through the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
- 30 percent as dollar-for dollar matching grants to local governments for park and recreation purposes.
- 5 percent for the Coastal and Estuarine Water Access Program.
Substantial State Investment
Most conservation funding comes through state budget appropriations. North Carolina had a dedicated funding source for land conservation through a real estate transfer tax ($2 per $1,000 of the value of the property), however it was lost in 2012. Of every two dollars generated from the real estate transfer tax, one dollar went to conservation, the other to local governments. The dollar for conservation was split between the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund. Seventy-five cents went to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund for land acquisition and capital improvements (65 percent), local park projects (30 percent), and public beach access (5 percent); the remaining 25 cents went to the Natural Heritage Trust Fund, used primarily for land acquisition. Starting in 2013, the conservation trust funds lost all sources of dedicated revenue with the exception of custom license plate sales for PARTF and CWMTF (now the Land and Water Fund).
One North Carolina Naturally: One North Carolina Naturally is a collaborative, state-led endeavor to accelerate the rate that land is protected in North Carolina and to preserve permanently an additional one million acres of land by the end of 2009. The state is achieving this goal by:
- Fostering partnerships among private and public land protection partners
- Promoting regional open space planning, and
- Providing information about the importance of open space protection.
State Incentive for Local Conservation Funding
The Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund requires that a non-profit conservation organization must match 30 percent of trust fund monies received from sources other than NC ADFP Trust Fund.
Tier Two or Three Enterprise Counties:
- With a County Farmland Protection Plan must submit a 15 percent match
- Without a County Farmland Protection Plan must submit a 30 percent match
Tier One Enterprise Counties:
- With a County Farmland Protection Plan must submit a 0 percent match
- Without a County Farmland Protection Plan must have a 30 percent match.
The Park and Recreation Trust Fund uses 30 percent of its revenues for a dollar-for dollar matching grant to local governments for park and recreation purposes.
Conservation Tax Credits
In 1983, North Carolina enacted the nation’s first state conservation tax credit program, which has become a model for many others. The state offers an income tax credit of 25 percent of the fair market value of land donated to public or private nonprofit conservation entities. The credit limit is $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations. (The original law set the cap for a tax credit at $5,000. The maximum credit has been raised steadily over the years since then.) Eligible properties contribute to the goals of protecting water supply and quality, retaining working farms and forests, and development of greenways for trails and wildlife corridors. Approximately 20 percent of donations are made by conservation easement.
Local Financing Enabled
In North Carolina, cities and towns have their own taxing and debt authority. Property tax proceeds in local jurisdictions may be expended for parks and open space. However, there is no authority by which a portion of the tax may be dedicated for this purpose, so expenditures are subject to the annual appropriations process. The only means by which most North Carolina counties and municipalities may generate significant dedicated funds for land conservation is by issuing general obligation bonds upon approval by a majority of the voters. In 2007, the state legislature extended new enabling authority to North Carolina counties, allowing them to ask voters to approve a new local real estate transfer tax or an additional 1/4 cent local sales tax. If approved by county voters, funds from both these new finance mechanisms could be used for county conservation and recreation land acquisition.
Local Programs Included
Local conservation programs include:
- Cary, NC
- Guilford County, NC
- Mecklenburg County, NC
- New Hanover County, NC
- Orange County, NC
- Wake County, NC
Visit www.landvote.org for detailed information on these programs.
Federal Partnerships
Federal agencies and programs that have conserved land in North Carolina include:
- U.S. Department of Defense – Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Section 6 Grant
- U.S. Forest Service
- U.S. Forest Service – Forest Legacy Program (FLP)
- U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP)
- U.S. National Park Service
- U.S. National Park Service – LWCF Stateside
- U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service – Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP)
- U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service – Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
- U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service – Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)