North Carolina Wetlands Partnership

State and Federal agencies and non-profit organizations involved in the conservation of wetlands have created a Partnership that will improve the effectiveness of efforts to restore the ecology of the state's streams, wetlands, and riparian areas.

The North Carolina Wetlands Partnership is designed to develop cooperation and coordination among individuals and organizations involved with wetland and watershed conservation, and those agencies responsible for wetland protection.

An agreement was signed during a meeting of the Partners in Raleigh on September 2, 1998. Founding agencies for this Partnership include the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the North Carolina Wetlands Restoration Program, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A total of 25 state and Federal agencies and conservation organizations have signed the Memorandum of Understanding.

Participants have come together to form a network to share technical information related to the conservation of wetlands and watersheds in North Carolina. The Partnership will work cooperatively to identify priority conservation areas in the state; to develop strategies for wetland and watershed conservation; to share information regarding wetland restoration practices; and to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) to track wetland and stream protection, restoration, construction, and mitigation projects statewide.

Private landowner participation is the most important component of ensuring watershed conservation in North Carolina. The Partnership will work to develop educational tools and projects to promote citizen awareness and encourage sponsorship of wetlands and watershed restoration projects on private and public lands.
Representatives from state and Federal agencies sign the Memorandum of Understanding and comment on this historic event.

Representatives from state and Federal agencies
sign the Memorandum of Understanding and
comment on this historic event.

Photo: Jim Page. NCDENR

State and Federal agencies and conservation
organizations pose with a copy of the
Memorandum of Understanding, the first of its
kind in North Carolina.
Picture of State and Federal agencies and conservation organizations poseing with a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding
Photo: Jim Page, NCDENR

Memorandum of Understanding Signatories:
USDA-NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
NCDENR-DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
NCDENR-DIVISION OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT
NCDENR-DIVISION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
NCDENR-DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
NCDENR-DIVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATION
NCDENR-DIVISION OF FOREST RESOURCES
NCDENR-OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
NCDENR-WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
N. C. CHAPTER OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
CONSERVATION TRUST FOR NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH CAROLINA COASTAL LAND TRUST
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND
ALBEMARLE RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT
U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
TRIANGLE LANDS CONSERVANCY
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE SOUNDS
NORTH CAROLINA WATERSHED COALITION, INC.
DUKE UNIVERSITY WETLANDS CENTER
NCDENR-DIVISION OF MARINE FISHERIES
NCDENR-CONSERVATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM
PIEDMONT LAND CONSERVANCY
RESOURCE DATA INC.
APPLIED ECOLOGICAL SERVICES, INC.

For additional information regarding this Web page, contact John Ann Shearer, in Raleigh, NC, at johnann_shearer@mail.fws.gov

Visit the North Carolina ES Homepage
Visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home Page

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