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In 1995 at a small office in Badin, the LandTrust for Central North Carolina (the future Three Rivers Land Trust) was born.

Its mission was to conserve the natural areas, rural landscapes, family farms, and historic places in the central Piedmont of North Carolina. Land trusts were a relatively new concept, but conservationists saw the need for land protection efforts in the growing central Piedmont.

With a committed group of leaders like Ed Clement, first board president, the land trust soon relocated to Salisbury, where it flourished.  With the financial support of conservationists like Fred and Alice Stanback, the late Bill and Nancy Stanback, and other regional leaders the land trust began to fulfill its mission by permanently conserving its first project, an 1,800-acre property in Davie County known as Cooleemee Plantation.

Now, 29 years later, with the protection of a 297-acre farm also in Davie County, Three Rivers Land Trust has permanently conserved over 50,000 acres.

“Conserving over 50,000 acres is a major milestone for the organization. The credit for this achievement lies with our incredible donors and partners that share our commitment to the region’s natural resources” states Travis Morehead, executive director of Three Rivers.

Today TRLT has three focus areas: expanding public lands, saving family farms, and protecting local waters.

“Over our history, TRLT has transferred over 8,000 acres of land to local, state, and federal agencies where they are accessible to the public. These lands are local parks, additions to state parks, new state game-lands, or part of the Uwharrie National Forest,” states Crystal Cockman, associate director.  “A larger component of our conservation work has been the commitment to save local family farms.  Since 1995 we have conserved over 19,000 acres of agricultural lands and protected over 360 miles of river and stream corridors in our region. All these efforts help make a positive impact on our natural resources and the quality of life in our region now and into the future.”    

As one of the nation’s fastest growing states, North Carolina continues to grow in prosperity and population. New mega sites are being developed across the state, spurning new growth in more rural parts of North Carolina. With this new growth an increased demand for housing and services is also more prevalent, diminishing conservation opportunities, Morehead said.

“The focus from our inception to today and going forward is the conservation of our region’s natural resources and rural lands. Our organization and the work we do becomes more important with each passing day.”

Gifford Pinchot founder of the US Forest Service, said: “Unless we practice conservation, those who come after us will have to pay the price of misery, degradation, and failure for the progress and prosperity of our day.”

“Pinchot is reminding us that we cannot be so short sighted that we forget the generations that will come after us.  Thankfully a small group of visionary conservationists set out with future generations in mind,” Morehead said.

Learn how to support Three Rivers’ conservation efforts or to conserve property contact Emily Callicutt, senior land protection specialist, at emily@trlt.org.