news-record.com

By KEVIN REDDING

Piedmont Land Conservancy has been blessed with tremendous success in its first 20 years. As the local land trust working to protect the nature of our region, we have conserved more than 17,700 acres of Piedmont landscape.

Our focus on farmland preservation has helped dozens of local, working farms stay in the family. We've partnered with numerous landowners to buffer critical watersheds, ensuring a safer, cleaner supply of drinking water for our region. And we've been able to acquire and preserve many historical treasures as well as hunting and fishing opportunities. We've expanded regional greenways, helped create two new state parks and helped the North Carolina Zoo grow to be the largest in the nation. Yet as proud as we are of these successes, our mission remains as urgent as it was in 1990 when local citizens joined together to slow the loss of the Piedmont's special places. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary this month, our mission has never been more urgent.

Projections indicate that North Carolina's population will grow by 50 percent in the next 25 years. That equates to the current population of South Carolina migrating up to the Old North State. In the face of this increased development pressure, we have a window of opportunity to shape the Piedmont's quality of life for the better. Land conservation is vital to ensuring that our children and grandchildren, along with their many new neighbors, will experience a region -- and a quality of life -- that is equal to that with which we have been blessed.

After our recent cold and wet winter, it's hard to remember that we are only three years removed from a major drought. In late 2007, many local water supplies held less than a 100-day reserve of drinking water. Fortunately, rains came and the problem was alleviated, but drought will return. When it does, will those same supplies be sufficient for the burgeoning population? Land conservation along rivers and streams provides a proven and proactive method of protecting both the quality and the quantity of water flowing downstream.

The Piedmont simply wouldn't be the same without the seasonal production of fruits and vegetables, and, fortunately, interest in local food is growing dramatically. This new customer base comes just as many farms are transitioning from tobacco and searching for profitable alternatives.

Though farming in the future will certainly look different than current operations, one thing is sure: our treasured local farms cannot survive without adequate supplies of agricultural land.

Our region's wildlife is an often-overlooked component of quality of life. For older generations it seems unthinkable that quail populations are anything less than abundant. Yet, as land uses and farming practices have changed, it has become difficult to find a covey of native quail.

Some species such as deer and turkey are thriving alongside an expanding human population, while others, such as box turtles and mature hardwood forests, struggle amid fragmented suburban landscapes. Setting aside significant pieces of land -- from farms to parks -- helps local wildlife populations recover and thrive.

Finally, the Piedmont's economic future is closely tied to how we care for the land. Although conservation and economic health may appear to be at odds, they are actually interdependent. Conservation lands contribute to the region's overall quality of life. They filter runoff and buffer streams to protect water quality while providing places for agriculture and tourism -- our state's two largest industries.

Fortunately, through PLC's work, we can all enjoy the benefits of land conservation and watershed protection today while being assured that our many new neighbors and future generations also will benefit. As PLC celebrates our 20th anniversary, we are deeply grateful to our extended family of local donors, volunteers and landowners who are helping to leave a lasting legacy to the Piedmont.

Kevin Redding is executive director of the Piedmont Land Conservancy.