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THE YEAR AHEAD <br />Accelerating the rate at which we protect land in North Carolina is essential if we are to reach <br />our million -acre target by December 2009. While the most critical element in our rate of land <br />protection is availability of funding, there are ma►iy other factors that also affect that rate. <br />Embracing the following strategies will help us achieve our protection goals. <br />Proposed Strategies <br />Provide Leadership in Promoting and Assisting Regional Open Space Planning As mentioned <br />earlier in the report, regional open space planning is an important part of making sure the million <br />acres we eventually protect are the right million acres — not a piecemeal, patchwork of <br />undeveloped lands but a system of essential greenspace whose network supports the complete <br />functionality of each piece of land protected. <br />Provide Coordination for the Initiative. Protection of one million acres of farmland, parks, <br />natural areas, and watersheds across North Carolina will involve the participation of many state <br />and federal agencies, local governments, private land trusts, conservation groups, and other <br />organizations involved with land conservation. Coordination among these many participants is <br />needed to share ideas, to foster partnerships, to minimize duplication of effort, and to ensure that <br />the Million Acre Initiative results in conservation of North Carolina's most environmentally <br />important lands. <br />Supply Information. There is a great need for an organized, targeted, statewide open space <br />education campaign. Presentations about the importance of open space protection should be <br />delivered to business groups, civic groups, school groups, local officials and their staffs and <br />boards. These presentations should stress the importance of open space protection from an <br />environmental perspective, economic development perspective, and a quality of life perspective. <br />They should be based on a consistent message and should be offered broadly throughout the <br />state. As a supplement, the Million Acre Initiative website should be continually updated with <br />interesting and informative links for individuals who want to know more about protecting open <br />space in North Carolina. <br />15 <br />