The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

North Carolina's Coastal Plain runs from Virginia to South Carolina and extends inward almost to Raleigh. TNC has worked in the Coastal Plain for three decades to protect the unique natural communities that thrive here.

Why so Special?

The region's numerous rivers, streams and wetlands are the lifeblood of the Coastal Plain, providing rich habitat for plants and animals, soaking up flood waters and feeding North Carolina's sounds and bays.

In these low lying areas, a rise of mere inches in elevation can bring a host of different species and habitat types. The Coastal Plain has some of the richest biodiversity found anywhere in the world, supporting an amazing range of plant life. Rare animals (some federally endangered) like the red-cockaded woodpecker make this place home, as doe black bear, the bald eagle and the American alligator.

The Coastal Plain is the site of some of the Conservancy's most recognized North Carolina projects, from the floodplain forests of the Roanoke River to the longleaf savannas of the Green Swamp to the many state parks and national wildlife refuges that dot the region. One of our most important - and sometimes surprising - partners in this region is the U.S. military.  See our Policy page for more about our work with the military to conserve land.

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Places to Visit

Conservation Landscapes

Chowan Swamp Game Land
Merchants Millpond State Park
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Northwest River Marsh Game Land
North River Game Land

Roanoke River
Camassia Slopes Preserve
Larkspur Ridge Preserve
Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land
Devil's Gut Preserve

Van Swamp Game Land
Pettigrew State Park
Currituck Outer Banks
Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve
Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve
Jockey's Ridge State Park
Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve
Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge

Sandhills
Sandhills Game Lands
Weymouth Woods Natural Area
Calloway Forest Preserve
Carvers Creek State Park
Long Valley Farm

Carolina Bay Preserves
Lumber River State Park
Cedar Swamp Seep Preserve

Black River
Pondberry Bay Preserve
South River Preserve
Black River Preserve

Cape Fear River
Horseshoe Lake

Green Swamp
Old Dock Savanna Preserve
Myrtle Head Savanna Preserve
Lake Waccamaw State Park
Juniper Creek Game Lands
Columbus County Game Land
Green Swamp Preserve
Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve

Onslow Bight
Angola Creek Flatwoods Preserve
Shaken Creek Savanna Preserve
Holly Shelter Game Land
Rachel Carson Estuarine Research Reserve
Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Fear National Seashore     

Bald Head Island

Things To Do

Plan Your Visit

Directions

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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