Blue Ridge Conservancy and the Land for Tomorrow Coalition Thank Legislators For Investing in North Carolina's Conservation Trust Funds
RALEIGH, N.C. — Blue Ridge Conservancy (BRC) and the Land for Tomorrow (LFT) coalition thank the North Carolina General Assembly for making a strong investment in the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund through the 2026 state budget while maintaining stable funding for the N.C. Land and Water Fund and the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. In addition, the General Assembly authorized the creation of the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area, an initiative spearheaded by BRC and Foothills Conservancy of NC.
The budget, signed into law by Governor Josh Stein on Tuesday, July 7th, strengthens North Carolina's long-standing commitment to conservation by investing in three proven programs that deliver lasting benefits to communities across the state.
Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF)
The budget includes $2 million in new recurring funds and $46.9 million in nonrecurring funds for farmland preservation through the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (ADFPTF), helping farmers protect working lands that sustain North Carolina's leading industry. Conserving farmland is one way in which BRC strengthens rural economies, supports food production, and preserves the agricultural heritage and scenic beauty that defines our communities.
N.C. Land and Water Fund
The budget kept the funds steady for the N.C. Land and Water Fund, with an allocation of $28 million, which helps land trusts like BRC protect drinking water sources, conserve wildlife habitat, improve water quality, and support flood resilience while helping local communities preserve the natural resources that drive economic growth and outdoor recreation.
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF)
The budget provides for a slight reduction in recurring and nonrecurring funds, bringing the total allocation to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) to $26 million, helping communities create and improve local parks, trails, playgrounds, and outdoor recreation facilities. BRC has frequently partnered with communities and state agencies in using these investments to improve quality of life, expand public access to the outdoors, and support North Carolina's $16.2 billion outdoor recreation economy.
“We applaud the General Assembly for its wise investment in North Carolina’s conservation trust funds and its authorization of the Brushy Mountains State Natural Area,” said David Ray, BRC Executive Director. "The trust funds enable landowners and communities to protect the places that make our state special. Taxpayers get real returns through cleaner water, stronger farms, thriving local parks, expanded outdoor recreation, and more resilient communities. It’s one of the smartest investments we can make in our state's economy, heritage, and future."
The budget includes $2 million in new recurring funds and $46.9 million in nonrecurring funds for farmland preservation.
This year's budget follows another significant conservation milestone: the extension of North Carolina's Conservation Tax Credit through 2031 in the NC Farm Act (SB 401). The extension provides landowners with greater certainty as they plan for the future and preserves a proven incentive to voluntarily protect working farms, forests, and other important lands. Combined with strong funding for the state's conservation trust funds, North Carolina continues to demonstrate that practical, bipartisan conservation policies deliver lasting benefits for communities, agriculture, and future generations.
For decades, North Carolina's conservation trust funds have helped leverage dollars to protect millions of acres of land, improve public access to recreation, conserve working farms and forests, safeguard drinking water supplies, and preserve places that define North Carolina's history and identity.
BRC and the LFT coalition thank members of the General Assembly from both parties for their continued leadership and support of these nationally recognized conservation programs. Together, these investments will help ensure North Carolina remains a great place to live, work, visit, and raise future generations.
About Land for Tomorrow
Land for Tomorrow is a statewide coalition dedicated to increasing public funding for North Carolina's land and water conservation. The coalition is working to protect the lands and waters that support North Carolina's economy, natural resources, and quality of life. Learn more at https://www.land4tomorrow.org.
About Blue Ridge Conservancy
Blue RIdge Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust, partners with landowners and local communities to permanently protect natural resources with agricultural, cultural, recreational, ecological, and scenic value in northwest North Carolina.