Summary
Purpose: To identify and protect environmentally important forest lands that are threatened by present or future conversion to non-forest use.
Scope: The program will be available only in areas identified in North Carolinaís Forest Legacy Assessment of Need. These areas will be determined by an advisory group with input from the public.
Description: The program is designed to identify and protect environmentally important forest lands through the use of perpetual conservation easements between willing sellers and willing buyers. Only forest land in a Forest Legacy Area is eligible for the program. Landowners who are willing to sell their development rights are encouraged to apply. All applications will be evaluated and ranked.
The highest ranked
applications will sought for easement acquisition. If negotiations produce
acceptable easement terms, the easement will be acquired and recorded in
the land records. The number of parcels accepted for acquisition will depend
on the funding available and the estimated value of the parcels selected.
7/1/99