Download Section 1 of the Green Growth Toolbox handbook (PDF - 936 KB) |
POPULATION GROWTH
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.
Click map for larger view.
Conservation Trust of North Carolina and
Dr. Volker Radeloff, University of Wisconsin
Click map for larger view.
Conservation Trust of North Carolina and
Dr. Volker Radeloff, University of Wisconsin
LAND DEVELOPMENT
- 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.
NORTH CAROLINA’S CHALLENGE
- Our challenge is to work together and build nature-friendly communities—communities that conserve declining habitats alongside new development.
- Join with us as biologists, planners, developers, and other land use decision makers meet this challenge together.
THE GREEN GROWTH SOLUTION
- 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