New North Carolina Forest Conservation Group Forms to Help Private Landowners
RALEIGH, NC (5 October 2005) - The North Carolina Woodland Owners Association (NCWOA) is a newly-formed organization dedicated to advancing the interests of private landowners within our state. The NCWOA affirms the private property rights of landowners including their right to manage and harvest their woodlands in an economically, ecologically and socially responsible manner. To that end, the NCWOA vigorously encourages the practice of forestry as a means of helping landowners realize greater income, more wildlife, cleaner water, fewer wildfires and healthier forests.
North Carolina possesses significant and valuable natural resources found on over 18 million acres of woodland. Private woodland owners own or control approximately three-quarters of this land, or some 14 million acres. In addition to providing natural beauty and wildlife habitat, these forests contribute much to the overall health and economic well-being of our state and her people.
In the last decade, however, North Carolina has lost more than one million acres of woodland and open space to development and urban sprawl. To increase public awareness of the importance of our woodlands to our state, the NC Division of Forest Resources and the NC Cooperative Extension Service, in collaboration with the NCWOA and other conservation groups, will soon present three (3) regional working forests summits for landowners and others interested in our environment. The summits will focus on strategies for retaining forestland in rapidly urbanizing areas as well as income, estate and property taxes. More details will follow in the days ahead as plans for the summits are finalized.
The NCWOA is affiliated with the National Woodland Owners Association and annual dues are $15.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT: Stephen A. Whitfield, RF, ACF
Executive Director
North Carolina Woodland Owners Association
(919) 787-1220