North Carolina is facing unprecedented population growth: Between 1990 and 2000 our population grew by 21 percent, and the population is expected to increase by 50 percent by 2030.

• This population growth is fueling patterns of land development that threaten our natural heritage and quality of life.
• Instead of concentrating development in town centers, our communities are sprawling outward.
• Currently, over 100,000 acres of forests and fields are being developed each year—an area the size of Winston-Salem and High Point combined.
• In fact, North Carolina is the only state in the nation with three of the nation’s top 20 “sprawl centers”: the Triangle, the Triad, and the Charlotte metro region.

• Our challenge is to work together and build nature-friendly communities—communities that conserve declining habitats as we grow.
• We are an innovative state and nation and we can meet this challenge. Learn about what communities in NC and nationwide are doing to address this challenge in the GGT handbook.
• Join with us as biologists, planners, developers, and other land use decision makers meet this challenge together.

• Green Growth—a nature-friendly way of developing communities—presents a way to tackle our challenge.
• The Green Growth Toolbox will help bridge the gap between scientists and decision makers—and enable us to cooperatively conserve our state’s natural assets for future generations.
• By working together to apply the Green Growth Toolbox in your community:
  • Water quality will improve
  • Ecotourism opportunities will abound
  • Wildlife resources will be conserved
  • Natural heritage will remain intact
  • Quality of life will be enriched