Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
investigated by Sather and Hall , for both biological and logistic reasons . But LWW4 and 41 <br /> have pointed to several areas of prime forest that may warrant exploration . <br /> D . Update GIS Data <br /> There is a current need to update the GIS layers showing forest cover of different types , <br /> and document changes from 1988 photos . The goal would be to assess rate of deforestation, to <br /> document increases in forest fragmentation, to note intactness of inventoried sites , and . to locate <br /> areas of increased or qualitatively changed forest cover . <br /> E . Ground-truthina <br /> Ground- level verification of the results from aerial surveys is important , observations on <br /> forest quality and species composition, where land is accessible, is also vital to maintaining an <br /> accurate picture of County biological resources . One way to obtain this information would be to <br /> work with local hiking groups , scout troops , and birding and butterfly groups , under the guidance <br /> of the ERCD Land Resources Conservation Manager . <br /> F . Development of a county plan for biological resource protection and acquisition : <br /> Although Orange County has an avowed commitment to environmental protection, there <br /> does not seem to be a comprehensive plan in place to prioritize and preserve biological resources <br /> as they are identified . The following actions are recommended . <br /> 1 . Complete a Natural Areas element of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan <br /> 2 . Refine the enclosed prioritization of natural areas that are candidates for protection <br /> using the criteria developed by the BRC for the Lands Legacy Program . <br /> 3 . Re- examine and fortify County policy tools for land protection . These include zoning <br /> (or overlay zoning) , fee - simple purchase by the county or purchase by a conservancy <br /> ith the county . Other alternatives that have been used elsewhere and could <br /> working w <br /> be explored are purchase of development rights , conservation easements , and <br /> independent arrangements with landowners . <br /> 4 . Compile information on existing outside funding sources for land acquisition, beyond <br /> such sources as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, the Farmland Preservation <br /> Trust Fund, and the Natural Heritage Trust Fund . Mobilizing the ERCD to have full <br /> knowledge of available outside funding sources can allow increased land protection <br /> with less direct County funding . As many of these funds are matching funds , we <br /> encourage the Board of Commissioners to allocate adequate funds for land <br /> acquisition, particularly over the next decade as land development accelerates . <br /> 11 <br />