SAVE OUR SANDHILLS HOSTS EXPERT ON NEW
WILDLIFE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR NORTH CAROLINA DEVELOPMENTS
On April 29, Save Our Sandhills hosts guest speaker Vann Stancil to discuss the newly created Wildlife Friendly Development Certification program developed through a partnership of the following groups – the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF), the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), and the North Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (NC-ASLA). The program offers certification for developments that go above and beyond requirements to ensure that wildlife habitat is protected and impacts on the environment are minimized.
Why this concerted effort of wildlife biologists, conservationists, landscape design professionals, and developers? Over the past 20 years, North Carolina has lost 2.4 million acres of forests and agricultural lands. Realizing that the state’s precious open space has been dwindling for years, North Carolina began a mission on January 1, 1999, to save a million acres from development. Called the Million Acre Initiative, it was unable to achieve its 10-year goal, coming up 350,000 acres short.
In the same ten years, North Carolina lost more acres to development than any other state in the Union. If the projected population increase of 50% by 2030 is accurate, North Carolina is expected to lose another 2 million acres in the next 30 years.
Given these sobering statistics, Wildlife Friendly Development Certification was created, complementing the green building standards that are becoming a more normal component of building practices in North Carolina. Sustainable practices are critical to our environment. This voluntary program, a smart growth habitat initiative, works with a developer to identify important natural resources on the development site that need protection, and it awards points for using techniques that minimize environmental impacts. Bog turtles, hooded warblers, bobwhite quail, and American shad are as carefully considered as architectural styles and street grids. Prior to construction, developers complete an inventory of conditions on site, including types of wildlife habitat, wetland and stream delineations, and any existing manmade barriers to wildlife movement. These questions get asked:
* Where are possible wildlife corridors?
* How can wildlife passages be provided so that animals can safely navigate roads?
* Where are opportunities to remove invasive vegetation?
* How can wildlife habitat be maximized and impact on species minimized?
Throughout the stages of construction, developments are evaluated using a suite of criteria that offer points for the developer. The developer must earn a sufficient number of points to be certified. Even after construction, the homeowners’ maintenance can affect the status of the certified Wildlife Friendly Development.
Vann Stancil has been a Special Project Coordinator with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries. Prior to this, Stancil worked for Progress Energy doing aquatic monitoring work on lakes and rivers associated with its power plants in the Carolinas. He has a B.S. from North Carolina State University in Fisheries and Wildlife Science and an M.S. from Virginia Tech in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
Join us for an informative, interesting evening; refreshments will be served. Thursday, April 29 at 7 P.M. Southern Pines Civic Club, corner of Ashe Street and Pennsylvania.
Showing posts with label green spaces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green spaces. Show all posts
1/29/2009
The Green New Deal, Heinberg
http://globalpublicmedia.com/reality_report_talking_with_richard_heinberg_about_the_green_new_deal
4/12/2008
Conservation Insider Bulletin, April 11
Conservation Insider Bulletin
Published weekly for the Conservation Council of North Carolina
Conservation News to Peruse & Use
Editor: Dan Besse, cib@conservationcouncilnc.org
April 11, 2008
Track "muddy water watch" enforcement examples, consider key clean water legislation, and explore the sinister plot of "greenways", this week in CIB:
--Enforcement Update: Muddy Water Case Study
--Washington Watch: Clean Water Restoration Act
--The Other Side: Greenways, the Communist Plot
Enforcement Update: Muddy Water Case Study
As a part of ongoing citizen enforcement training efforts, the Neuse River Foundation (NRF) and other groups have released "case studies" which show examples of the kinds of problems which occur when sedimentation control laws are not enforced. Recently, this enforcement training effort has looked hard at examples in Cary. Discussion and photos can be found at http://www.muddywaterwatch.org/casestudies.html.
Washington Watch: Clean Water Restoration Act
Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court (in 2001 and 2006) veered away from its earlier broad interpretations of the Clean Water Act, federal protections for critical waters and wetlands have been narrowing. In response, pro-environmental leaders in the U.S. Congress are trying to re-clarify the law to include the earlier broad definition of protected waters.
The resulting legislation is called the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 1870 and H.R. 2421). Earlier this week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the bill, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to take up the issue next week. In the view of many environmentalists, this is the most important clean water issue to come before Congress in years.
Among the North Carolina Congressional delegation, Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC1), David Price (D-NC4), Mel Watt (D-NC12) and Brad Miller (D-NC13) are co-sponsors of the House version of the bill. (CIB commends these members for their clean water leadership.)
Alas, not all the N.C. representatives are so foresighted. In particular, Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC8), a member of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, has criticized it. Hayes claims that the bill would compromise the rights of property owners, especially farmers. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC5) has also been visibly critical of the bill, again citing the usual "property rights" arguments.
As always, the "property rights" arguments elevate the rights of some to dump into public waters, and dismiss the rights of downstream and other impacted neighbors to clean water. Butterfield makes that point in support of the bill when he notes that it only limits actions that adversely impact a neighbor's water.
(Information taken from various published reports.)
The Other Side: Greenways, the Communist Plot
Sometimes the anti-environmentalists' train completely jumps the track of reality. This month the John Lockies are treating us to one of their most bizarre examples: greenways as a communist plot to steal our property rights. (Cue the "Outer Limits" theme music now.)
The Locke Foundation is pushing a "report" attacking the new Neuse River Greenway under development in Raleigh, as an uncompensated invasion of private property rights. Set aside the fact that the neighborhood supposedly "invaded" was advertised as a "greenways community". They assert, without evidence, that greenways devalue property. Odd conclusion, that—especially when a group as "property rights" oriented as the National Association of Realtors has found precisely to the contrary. In fact, proximity to greenways boosts property sale values.
The Lockies' paper is revealed as no more than an ideological tract when it asserts the sweeping claim, also without evidence, "Since greenways are commonly owned public property, they are more susceptible to crime, litter, and degradation than privately owned property." They talk of the alternative benefits of "private greenways" which would be open only to paying customers.
And there we have the truth. This is an outfit of ideologues so extreme that they reject the very premise of public parkland.
So sell off Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Yellowstone, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and the rest of those publicly-owned eyesores. Who could possibly want to live next to such a set of dumps?
Published weekly for the Conservation Council of North Carolina
Conservation News to Peruse & Use
Editor: Dan Besse, cib@conservationcouncilnc.org
April 11, 2008
Track "muddy water watch" enforcement examples, consider key clean water legislation, and explore the sinister plot of "greenways", this week in CIB:
--Enforcement Update: Muddy Water Case Study
--Washington Watch: Clean Water Restoration Act
--The Other Side: Greenways, the Communist Plot
Enforcement Update: Muddy Water Case Study
As a part of ongoing citizen enforcement training efforts, the Neuse River Foundation (NRF) and other groups have released "case studies" which show examples of the kinds of problems which occur when sedimentation control laws are not enforced. Recently, this enforcement training effort has looked hard at examples in Cary. Discussion and photos can be found at http://www.muddywaterwatch.org/casestudies.html.
Washington Watch: Clean Water Restoration Act
Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court (in 2001 and 2006) veered away from its earlier broad interpretations of the Clean Water Act, federal protections for critical waters and wetlands have been narrowing. In response, pro-environmental leaders in the U.S. Congress are trying to re-clarify the law to include the earlier broad definition of protected waters.
The resulting legislation is called the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 1870 and H.R. 2421). Earlier this week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing on the bill, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to take up the issue next week. In the view of many environmentalists, this is the most important clean water issue to come before Congress in years.
Among the North Carolina Congressional delegation, Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC1), David Price (D-NC4), Mel Watt (D-NC12) and Brad Miller (D-NC13) are co-sponsors of the House version of the bill. (CIB commends these members for their clean water leadership.)
Alas, not all the N.C. representatives are so foresighted. In particular, Rep. Robin Hayes (R-NC8), a member of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, has criticized it. Hayes claims that the bill would compromise the rights of property owners, especially farmers. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC5) has also been visibly critical of the bill, again citing the usual "property rights" arguments.
As always, the "property rights" arguments elevate the rights of some to dump into public waters, and dismiss the rights of downstream and other impacted neighbors to clean water. Butterfield makes that point in support of the bill when he notes that it only limits actions that adversely impact a neighbor's water.
(Information taken from various published reports.)
The Other Side: Greenways, the Communist Plot
Sometimes the anti-environmentalists' train completely jumps the track of reality. This month the John Lockies are treating us to one of their most bizarre examples: greenways as a communist plot to steal our property rights. (Cue the "Outer Limits" theme music now.)
The Locke Foundation is pushing a "report" attacking the new Neuse River Greenway under development in Raleigh, as an uncompensated invasion of private property rights. Set aside the fact that the neighborhood supposedly "invaded" was advertised as a "greenways community". They assert, without evidence, that greenways devalue property. Odd conclusion, that—especially when a group as "property rights" oriented as the National Association of Realtors has found precisely to the contrary. In fact, proximity to greenways boosts property sale values.
The Lockies' paper is revealed as no more than an ideological tract when it asserts the sweeping claim, also without evidence, "Since greenways are commonly owned public property, they are more susceptible to crime, litter, and degradation than privately owned property." They talk of the alternative benefits of "private greenways" which would be open only to paying customers.
And there we have the truth. This is an outfit of ideologues so extreme that they reject the very premise of public parkland.
So sell off Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Yellowstone, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and the rest of those publicly-owned eyesores. Who could possibly want to live next to such a set of dumps?
3/12/2007
Green Roofing
Green Roofs: Building for the Future
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/030607EC.shtml
From the US Food and Drug Administration building in Washington, DC, to Heinz Corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., an increasing number of buildings are swapping shingles for sedums. The movement is called green roofing, but, far from an industrial paint job, it evolves around technology that's ecologically sound - and proving so useful that some major cities and the entire state of Maryland are eagerly exploiting the potential of this once-forgotten facade.
http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/030607EC.shtml
From the US Food and Drug Administration building in Washington, DC, to Heinz Corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., an increasing number of buildings are swapping shingles for sedums. The movement is called green roofing, but, far from an industrial paint job, it evolves around technology that's ecologically sound - and proving so useful that some major cities and the entire state of Maryland are eagerly exploiting the potential of this once-forgotten facade.
1/28/2007
1/24/2007
Protect NC Parks, Open Spaces
From the Smokies to the foothills to the Outer Banks, North Carolina has more than its share of natural beauty.
But out-of-control development and the state's growing population are quickly transforming the landscape, with the farmland and forests we treasure quickly disappearing. North Carolina's population recently surpassed that of New Jersey's and within the next 20 years will grow larger than Ohio's and Michigan's.
The development that comes with our growing population contaminates our rivers and streams, destroys fish and wildlife habitat, and makes the state more susceptible to damaging floods. What's more, development threatens some of the state's best-known and best-loved green spaces, from Chimney Rock, to the Uwharries, to our treasured coast.
That's why Environment North Carolina is working with the Land for Tomorrow Coalition to back the recommendations of the Land and Water Conservation study commission, which will ensure an additional $1 billion goes to existing land conservation programs.
The Land and Water Conservation plan can help protect Chimney Rock, the Uwharries, and hundreds of thousands of other important natural areas like them across the state. The proposal will help sustain working farms and forests, preserve stream and river buffers, and create new parks and greenways. In all, the plan will protect more than 260,000 acres of forests, farmlands, trails, parks, gamelands, and other natural areas, and more than 6,000 miles of river and stream buffers.
There's still time to let legislators know you support saving our natural areas. Welcome your legislators back to Raleigh and ask them to support protecting our parks and open spaces by sending an e-mail below.
Click on the link or copy and paste it into your web browser. Then forward this email to your family and friends.
https://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/action/preservation/welcome?id4=ES
Sincerely, Elizabeth Ouzts
Environment North Carolina State Director
ElizabethO@environmentnorthcarolina.orghttp://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org
But out-of-control development and the state's growing population are quickly transforming the landscape, with the farmland and forests we treasure quickly disappearing. North Carolina's population recently surpassed that of New Jersey's and within the next 20 years will grow larger than Ohio's and Michigan's.
The development that comes with our growing population contaminates our rivers and streams, destroys fish and wildlife habitat, and makes the state more susceptible to damaging floods. What's more, development threatens some of the state's best-known and best-loved green spaces, from Chimney Rock, to the Uwharries, to our treasured coast.
That's why Environment North Carolina is working with the Land for Tomorrow Coalition to back the recommendations of the Land and Water Conservation study commission, which will ensure an additional $1 billion goes to existing land conservation programs.
The Land and Water Conservation plan can help protect Chimney Rock, the Uwharries, and hundreds of thousands of other important natural areas like them across the state. The proposal will help sustain working farms and forests, preserve stream and river buffers, and create new parks and greenways. In all, the plan will protect more than 260,000 acres of forests, farmlands, trails, parks, gamelands, and other natural areas, and more than 6,000 miles of river and stream buffers.
There's still time to let legislators know you support saving our natural areas. Welcome your legislators back to Raleigh and ask them to support protecting our parks and open spaces by sending an e-mail below.
Click on the link or copy and paste it into your web browser. Then forward this email to your family and friends.
https://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org/action/preservation/welcome?id4=ES
Sincerely, Elizabeth Ouzts
Environment North Carolina State Director
ElizabethO@environmentnorthcarolina.orghttp://www.environmentnorthcarolina.org
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