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Objective B: <br /> Maintain, restore and enhance vital habitat functions <br /> to ensure the survival of wildlife, fisheries and the <br /> ::.. region's natural heritage. <br /> abitat protection in North Carolina includes regulation as well <br /> as non-regulatory tools. Non-regulatory tools include acquisi- <br /> tion, conservation easements, registration and dedication of <br /> land as natural areas, technical assistance for conservation, <br /> cooperative management agreements and incentives for landowners. <br /> Current restoration projects are largely experimental or scattered in . <br /> small <br /> projects.Under this objective,e cth <br /> ve volun�'Y proactive measures to <br /> restore vital habitats would be expanded. To make the best use of • <br /> funds,restoration would follow the priorities set out in basinwide vital <br /> habitat protection plans. The feasibility of a mitigation bank and <br /> other mechanisms for coordinating and consolidating restorations <br /> would be <br /> evaluated. Wetlands regulation n would be made more <br /> predictable. Ffforts to develop restoration technologies would be <br /> continued and,where appropriate, accelerated. <br /> Bring areas <br /> with the highest <br /> priority for protection into <br /> p ublic ownership and/or management.Expand funding ...... <br /> for public acquisition of park lands, gamelands, coastal <br /> reserves and other natural areas. <br /> .,R Explanation: Natural areas that are most vital to main- <br /> Zff". taining the region's natural heritage have been ide - <br /> • tified. Further priorities will be determined through ...... .... ...... <br /> basinwide ecosystem planning.Where possible,volun- <br /> tary acquisition is an important tool for protecting <br /> these areas.In addition to preserving rare species and <br /> natural communities, public areas that are managed <br /> by different agencies can serve a variety of purposes <br /> such as recreation,education or hunting. <br /> • <br /> ._.., ...... .._.... Promote <br /> P rivate stewardship of vital habitats through <br /> incentives <br /> and <br /> technical al ass' <br /> tance to landowners,wnecs, local <br /> governments and other interested parties. <br /> -- Explanation: High-priority natural areas that are not <br /> brought into <br /> g public ownership can be targeted for <br /> private conservation. Efforts would be expanded to <br /> inform private land owners of the ecological values of <br /> their land, to advise them on appropriate manage- <br /> ment strategies and to help them explore options for <br /> voluntary rot <br /> terry p ection. <br /> 23 <br />