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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION Introduction: During the 1998 Session of the General Assembly, lawmakers directed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to protect, through private and public actions, an additional million acres of farmland, open space, and other conservation lands across North Carolina between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2009. This directive is found in G.S. 113A- 241 (Included in this report as an appendix). The NC Million Acre Initiative is a state -led, collaborative endeavor meant to accelerate the rate at which land is protected in North Carolina by fostering partnerships among private and public land protection partners, promoting more regional open space planning, and providing information about the importance of open space protection. The goal is to permanently protect a million acres of open spaces including working landscapes, historic and cultural areas, floodplains, land essential for water quality protection, natural areas, species habitat, and recreational lands. Goals: Four fundamental goals of the Million Acre Initiative have been established - One primary goal and three secondary goals that support realization of the primary goal. 1) PROTECT LAND - G.S. 113A -241, directs the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to lead the effort to permanently protect an additional one million acres of open space, farmland and other conservation lands by the end of 2009. 2) PROMOTE COLLABORATION— To facilitate efficient land protection, communication networks between land protection partners must be supported. 3) INCREASE REGIONAL OPEN SPACE PLANNING — Developing plans for local and regional open space protection is an important step in the process of balancing North Carolina's development needs and conservation needs. 4) PROVIDE INFORMATION — The state government has a unique ability to centralize and distribute important statewide open space protection information. The state can provide a leadership role in open space protection education. Which Land Counts: Not all protected lands in North Carolina count toward the goal of protecting an additional million acres. In order to qualify, land must be permanently protected through the purchase or donation of a conservation easement or fee simple interest. The easement or deed must be held by a public or private conservation oriented entity.