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Figure 2 . -Land Conserved in North Carolina by Owner <br /> In 1999 , Governor Hunt ' s <br /> Interagency Task Force on Smart <br /> Growth found, through a series of Local <br /> public meetings across the state , Government State <br /> 0 <br /> that open space preservation was 2 % ° <br /> a primary citizen concern. The Non - Profit <br /> results of these public meetings 5 % <br /> led Governor Hunt to make his F <br /> million acre challenge at the NC �E 4 <br /> SmaA Growth Commission on <br /> January 31 , 2000 . Developed in Federal . 1- <br /> collaboration with a broad base of 72 % <br /> interested parties both inside and <br /> outside. of state government, this <br /> Million Acre Plan presents a <br /> strategy for meeting Governor Hunt ' s challenge . <br /> Need ... • ; . .• . : . . : . :: � • t,n ,: � , : . r : . . . . . . ., :, . __ ; . .. <br /> t <br /> The cost of open space conservation grows higher each year. Increasing open space <br /> conservation efforts now will help North Carolina to meet its economic , environmental, and <br /> quality of life goals . In particular, the need for open space conservation is demonstrated by the <br /> following facts : <br /> ➢ Population . North Carolina ' s population is expected to grow by 26 % over the next 20 years , <br /> creating tremendous pressures to develop the open spaces of the state . At the same time , an <br /> expanding population also increases demand for open space and outdoor recreation <br /> opportunities . <br /> ➢ Development of Open Figure 3 . Percent Change in NC Land Use , 1982 - 1997 <br /> Spaces . Forest and farms <br /> are being lost to <br /> development as shown in <br /> o p � : fi T I - .3 ➢ . : -1 � l1tl i � ( tj .. t1 tarl l ¢ <br /> Figure 3 with an 88 /o urban ti ,L k � T ' I .� f <br /> tt yt : !� f t r,,t <br /> increase in the urban areas <br /> of the state over a 15 -year <br /> eriod. The avera a annual Forest ' <br /> P g <br /> conversion rate of forests , <br /> farms and rural lands <br /> between 19924 997 was Farm <br /> 156 , 300 acres a year - - a <br /> 67 % increase in the rate of -20 % 0 % 20 % 40 % 60 % 80 % 100 % <br /> land conversion recorded <br /> from 1982 to 1992 . By <br /> 1997 , 14 . 7 % of North Carolina ' s land area was developed (USDA, 1999 ) - <br /> s <br /> 2 <br />