Land For Tomorrow Resolution

Whereas Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League is committed to protecting lands critical to the future of North Carolina’s drinking water, economy, and quality of life, and

Whereas North Carolina is losing more than 100,000 acres of those special places to population pressures each year, and

Whereas North Carolina’s population is expected to grow by 50 percent in the next 25 years, and

Whereas the important tourism industry can only survive and continue to provide an economic boost to the state with natural beauty, clean water and scenic vistas, and

Whereas there is inadequate funding for protecting stream banks and floodplains, legacy forests, prime farmlands, local parks and recreation, state parks, greenway and inactive rail corridors, game lands, natural, scenic and historic places, and

Whereas there is no second chance to protect North Carolina’s great resources and costs will only increase in the future

Whereas additional state funding will leverage twice as much funding from federal, private and local sources, and

Whereas a legislative study commission is charged with the responsibility of exploring the financing options for increasing conservation spending in North Carolina and will report to the General Assembly its findings and recommendations by February 1, 2007.

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League urges the 2007 General Assembly to enact legislation to increase North Carolina’s conservation spending by $1 billion over five years.