RESOLUTION

SUPPORT FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ON PRIVATE LANDS: TAX RELIEF LEGISLATION

WHEREAS, The National Wildlife Federation projects the loss in the United States of more than 22,000 acres of wildlife habitat around 35 major metropolitan areas during the next 25 years; and,

WHEREAS, Undeveloped private lands produce an array of important public benefits, and North Carolina is losing farm and forest lands at unprecedented rates; and,

WHEREAS, NC lost more than one million acres of forestland from 1990-2002, and continues to lose 100,000 acres of forests annually, 2,000 acres lost each week; and,

WHEREAS, Non-industrial private forest landowners (NIPFs) own 75 percent of the 18.3 million acres of forestland in the state. There are up to 700,000 NIPF landowners with an average parcel size of 17 acres; and,

WHEREAS, Agricultural land statewide declined by nearly 55.7 thousand acres annually over the most recent reporting period (1992-1997). Moreover prime cropland declined by an even greater percentage, losing 33.7 thousand acres annually during the same period. Farmland loss was greatest in urban or rapidly developing counties where both Mecklenburg and Wake Counties averaged 21 percent declines over the past five years, and Forsyth County averaged 10 percent declines. According to the American Farmland Trust, North Carolina ranks fourth nationally in the loss of farmland; and,

WHEREAS, Despite development pressure and forest loss, North Carolina still ranks among the top states in species and habitat diversity. Both residents and tourists enjoy our valuable game and wildlife populations, unique ecosystems, and rare and threatened species; and,

WHEREAS, Farm and forest landowners strongly support the Private Use Value Taxation (PUVT) program and believe that maintaining and strengthening it is critical to their ability to retain farm and forest lands; and,

WHEREAS, in surveys, forest landowners cite a wide diversity of primary management objectives, including estate investment, green space enjoyment, wildlife and rural residence. Only some of North Carolina landowners have timber production as a primary objective, with great diversity in landowner objectives across the state,

WHEREAS, during the 2007 session, the North Carolina House of Representatives passed by a vote of 93 to 22 House Bill 1889, which would allow individual landowners up to 100 acres per county to be enrolled in a new wildlife use value category similar to the forestry and agricultural categories.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, gathered at the Annual Meeting in Research Triangle Park, NC on February 23, 2008, calls upon the North Carolina General Assembly to enact House Bill 1889 and any similar legislation to complete the work to remove financial disincentives for private landowners to manage their land for high quality wildlife habitat.