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57 <br />APPENDIX <br />Million Acre Initiative Legislation <br />Approved June 28, 2000 <br />Article 17. <br />Conservation, Farmland, And Open Space Protection And Coordination. <br />§ 113A -240. Intent. <br />(a) It is the intent of the General Assembly to continue to support and accelerate the State's <br />programs of land conservation and protection, to find means to assure and increase funding for <br />these programs, to support the long -term management of conservation lands acquired by the <br />State, and to improve the coordination, efficiency, and implementation of the various State and <br />local land protection programs operating in North Carolina. <br />(b) It is the further intent of the General Assembly that the State's lands should be protected in a <br />manner that minimizes any adverse impacts on the ability of local governments to carry out their <br />broad mandates. (2000 -23, s. 2.) <br />§ 113A -241. State to Preserve One Million Acres; Annual Report. <br />(a) The State of North Carolina shall encourage, facilitate, plan, coordinate, and support <br />appropriate federal, State, local, and private land protection efforts so that an additional one <br />million acres of farmland, open space, and conservation lands in the State are permanently <br />protected by December 31, 2009. These lands shall be protected by acquisition in fee simple or <br />by acquisition of perpetual conservation easements by public conservation organizations or by <br />private entities that are organized to receive and administer lands for conservation purposes. <br />(b) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall lead the effort to add one million <br />acres to the State's protected lands and shall plan and coordinate with other public and private <br />organizations and entities that are receiving and administering lands for conservation purposes. <br />(c) The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall report to the Governor and the <br />Environmental Review Commission annually beginning on September 1, 2000, on the State's ; <br />progress towards attaining the goal established in Section 2 of this Article. (2000 -23, Ss. 2, 3.) <br />16 <br />