Nature Conservancy Praises Perdue, Other Governors’ Commitment to Coastal Protection

South Atlantic Alliance Will Better Manage Southeast Coastal Resources

DURHAM — Nov. 4, 2009 — Governor Beverly Perdue’s decision to join her counterparts in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida in the South Atlantic Alliance is a big step forward in ensuring coastal protection. That’s according to officials with the North Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, who today applauded her efforts. (con't below)

Sunset over the Albermarle Sound

The four governors announced earlier this fall that they were signing the joint agreement to protect the southeast coast while at the same time ensuring that the region has a sound economic base. The pact will bring together government, academic, conservation and business interests to devise coastal protection plans that benefit the environment and the economy.

“We’ve put a lot of effort into protecting several hundred thousand acres on North Carolina’s coast. Our counterparts have done the same in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida,” said Katherine Skinner, executive director of the Conservancy’s North Carolina Chapter. “But, the entire southeast coast faces significant pressures both manmade and naturally occurring. This Alliance will help us balance those pressures in a way to that is best for the environment and for the people who depend on that environment for their livelihood.”

The Alliance has identified four priority areas:

healthy coastal ecosystems
disaster-resilient communities
clean coastal and ocean waters
working waterfronts

The Nature Conservancy and its partners have protected some of the state’s signature coastal areas including Nags Head Woods, Kitty Hawk Woods and Buxton Woods (Dare County), Jockey’s Ridge (Dare County), the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge (Dare and Hyde counties), Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge (Hyde County), Rachel Carson Estuarine Research Reserve (Carteret County), Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge (Carteret County), Cape Lookout National Seashore (Carteret County), and Bald Head Island Coastal Reserve (Brunswick County).

“These are important conservation areas,” said Skinner. “People want to live, work and play there with good reason. But, they are also in harm’s way when it comes to hurricanes and the risk posed by climate change and sea level rise. This regional alliance will help sort out competing interests and ensure that everyone works together for the common good.”

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.