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THE TRIANGLE GREENPRINT : A REGIONAL GREEN SPACE PLAN TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE MILLION ACRE INITIATIVE A Blueprint for a Green Future A concept paper prepared by the Triangle Land Conservancy, the Triangle J Council of Governments , and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (August 2000) Background Each day, more than 50 acres of rural land are developed in the Research Triangle Region . l This adds up to about 20 , 000 acres developed every year . As the landscape changes , the Triangle is experiencing increasing problems with loss of green space , disappearing farmland, displaced wildlife, overcrowded parks , polluted runoff, flooding, and loss of rural character. At the same time , public processes such as the Regional Development Choices Project have found considerable citizen support for green space protection . The challenge is to identify the Triangle ' s essential green infrastructure and coordinate efforts to protect it as the region grows . The Triangle GreenPrint The Triangle GreenPrint is a plan to maintain a functioning green infrastructure . It will . • Map the lands that are currently protected and planned for protection in the region ; • Identify the types of green space that we need to protect in order to maintain our green infrastructure ; • Locate these areas at a regional scale on a series of generalized maps ; • Conduct a gap analysis to see how the existing system compares with the desired system, identifying opportunities for linkage and the accomplishment of multiple objectives ; and • Identify strategies , organizations , and funding sources to help implement the plan . The project brings together a non-profit land trust, a regional council of governments , and a state agency in equal partnership to guide the project . Together, the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) , the Triangle J Council of Governments (TJCOG) , and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources , Division of Parks & Recreation (NCDENR) will work closely with local governments , regional, state and federal agencies , non-profit organizations , universities , and private individuals to develop and implement the GreenPrint . By planning for green space protection at a regional scale , the project will identify the ecological and recreational systems on which the region depends for its health and quality of life . The resulting GreenPrint will highlight the opportunities for linkage across jurisdictional boundaries and help maximize the investments we make in our green infrastructure . The Million Acre Initiative The Million Acre Initiative unveiled this year by Governor Hunt and - codified by the North Carolina General Assembly sets a statewide goal of protecting a million acres of land in ten years and outlines a framework for coordinating protection efforts across the state . Priorities for ' State of Open Space 2000 , Triangle Land Conservancy . The Research Triangle as defined here consists of the Region J planning area that includes Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee , Orange , and Wake Counties . 1