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47 <br />that is available on CD -ROM and viewable using GIS software. CGIA is handling the <br />distribution of this product. In its present state, though, the product will not be able to serve all <br />the functions it was designed to do. In order to be completely functional, more spatial data needs <br />to be created and incorporated into the GIS. In North Carolina, and most other states, digital, <br />geographic information about the land holdings of the local governments and the private non- <br />profit land trusts is lacking. Until this information is collected, and in some cases created, the <br />Million Acre GIS will only be partially effective. Collecting all the land protection information <br />that is needed will take time. It will involve developing partnerships between state government, <br />regional councils of government, local governments, and private land protection interests. <br />The maps on the following pages are products of CGIA's Million Acre Mapping project. The <br />first map shows the extent of protected lands in North Carolina before the Million Acre Initiative <br />and the open spaces that have been protected as part of the Million Acre Initiative. The second <br />map is a larger scale focus on one portion of the map — the Wilmington area in this case - used to <br />show detail that cannot be seen on a statewide map. The maps are being presented here only for <br />the purpose of demonstrating some of the information available in the GIS. They are not of <br />sufficient quality to be used for land protection analyses. <br />The maps present approximately 107,000 acres of the total 112,000 acres that have been <br />identified as protected as part of the Million Acre Initiative. Some discrepancies exist at the <br />local government level and some of the private lands that have been counted are not included in <br />the map work. All state lands that have been counted toward the million -acre goal are shown on <br />the maps and nearly all the federal lands are mapped as well. Corrections and updates will be <br />made to the CGIA Million Acre GIS as more funds become available to do so. Discussions are <br />underway to determine the best way for individual land protection partners to make updated <br />information available to CGIA. <br />go <br />