North Carolina faces intense pressure on its remaining undeveloped land, largely due to our rapidly increasing population. The state's population is expected to increase from 8 million to 12 million in the next 25 years, and is among the top ten fastest growing states in the nation. Over the last ten years, 1 million acres of open space in North Carolina has been lost to development—that's 100,000 acres per year! We are losing prime farmland, as well as forestland—for the first time since the 1930s, North Carolina has experienced a decline in forestland acreage. 

While urban areas of the state experience population pressure and poorly planned growth, some rural areas are struggling economically. Rural counties hold the state's richest natural areas, but are often forced to accept dirty industries which promise jobs but destroy the natural environment. North Carolinians are producing waste at a rate faster than our population is increasing, and rural land is often looked to for landfills for our growing mountains of waste, not to mention waste imported from out of state. 

Land plays a critical role in protecting water and air quality, and if conserved strategically, can also protect quality of life for both rural and urban residents. Conservation-based economic development can provide jobs in rural areas, while building upon North Carolina's natural assets. 

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