Land Stewardship
Forest or field, public or private, high country or cypress-ringed swamp—land is where conservation starts. Every acre matters, which is why the N.C. Wildlife Federation’s work on behalf of land stewardship encompasses projects as diverse as landscape-scale planning for large public holdings and backyard habitat improvements for homeowners.


Project: Private Lands

The Issue: North Carolina law provides a number of incentives to landowners who earn revenue from the production of crops, timber, and other commodities on farm and forest land. State law also provides incentives for the use and management of private land for wildlife and other conservation uses, but the present use value tax program (PUVT) doesn’t recognize this type of land management along with commodity production. PUVT is administered by county tax assessors to compensate landowners, but many counties interpret the statutory provisions differently. Most Southeastern states have modernized their PUVT statutes to allow private land owners to pursue the conservation of wildlife uses, and receive compensation for their efforts.


The Action: NCWF will work to pass legislation that will require all North Carolina counties to allow the management of private lands solely or primarily for wildlife habitat or other conservation purposes, such as protecting water quality, as a qualifying use under PUVT.