North Carolina’s conservation success depends on strong partnerships, and that is exactly what the Land for Tomorrow coalition makes possible.
Blue Ridge Conservancy is helping protect some of northwest North Carolina’s most important lands, from prime farmland and scenic Blue Ridge Parkway views to rare wildlife habitats and expanding trail systems like the Middle Fork Greenway and Northern Peaks State Trail. These efforts are made possible through support from North Carolina’s conservation trust funds and the power of statewide collaboration.
One major example is the Three Top Connector project in Ashe County, where a $1 million grant from the N.C. Land and Water Fund helped Blue Ridge Conservancy protect 335 acres and connect previously separated game lands across Three Top Mountain. Today, the project provides 6.5 miles of continuous protected game lands while safeguarding critical headwater streams and wildlife habitat.
But conservation is about more than individual projects. It is about building a stronger statewide network.
“Being a member of Land For Tomorrow helps us connect to other organizations working on the same types of projects in different areas of North Carolina that we might not otherwise interface with,” said David Ray, Executive Director of the Blue Ridge Conservancy.
“Being located in the northwest part of the state, without LFT we would not have nearly as much representation and voice at the state level.”
Land for Tomorrow brings together organizations from across North Carolina to ensure rural communities, working lands, outdoor recreation, and natural resources all have a voice in Raleigh. That coalition work helps secure the investments that keep North Carolina strong, connected, and prepared for future growth.