Investing in Coastal Communities
North Carolina’s conservation trust funds contribute to conservation of wetlands, natural areas, parks, and military buffers throughout coastal communities.
Protecting the coast’s most important economic assets
On the coast, clean water is vital for all people who live and visit the more than 12,000 miles of coastal shoreline in North Carolina. The tourism economy – restaurants, boat and kayak rentals, local stores, etc. – relies on clean water for recreation and to draw folks to our state’s beautiful beaches every year. Commercial fishermen need clean water to make their livelihoods and to provide fresh fish locally and across the U.S. Oyster aquaculture is a growing industry on the state’s coast that relies on the state’s trust funds to ensure clean water.
Investing in our economy and quality of life
At every level, sportsmen, conservation organizations, the military, communities, private landowners, local governments and the state work together to ensure our natural resources support a vibrant economy by conserving:
Partnerships between government agencies, conservation groups, and private landowners work to protect our natural resources, support major economic sectors, and strengthen our local communities. The value of these partnerships demonstrates the cooperative spirit of all North Carolinians working together to preserve the past while making our future brighter.
Demand for trust fund grants far exceeds available resources. More than 70 percent of registered voters support restoring state funding for the conservation trust funds to $100 million to protect water quality, conserve working farms, and preserve parkland and historic sites.
North Carolina’s conservation trust funds have invested $184 million in the coastal region to support economic development and preserve unique natural features so our state continues to be a wonderful place to work, play, and raise a family.
About the Trust Funds
N.C. Land and Water Fund
Established by the General Assembly in 1996, the N.C. Land and Water Fund protects the natural, cultural, and historic places that make North Carolina special.
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
Since its creation by the General Assembly in 1994, PARTF has served as the primary source of funding for land acquisition and capital improvements across our state and local park systems — including trails, greenways, playgrounds, and public beach access.
Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund
Created in 2005, the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF) helps protect the working family farms that power our state’s #1 industry — agriculture, which contributes over $91 billion to the state’s economy each year.