North Carolina Wildlife Conservation Lands Program

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North Carolina Wildlife Conservation Lands Program

• G.S. 105-277.15

Brad Howard NCWRC, Private Lands Program
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Introduction

• This program recognizes wildlife conservation
  land (WCL) as a special class of property that
  must be assessed at a reduced value.
• It does not place WCL into the PUV program,
  however it does require the land to be assessed
  as if it were agriculture land.
• The statute further defines certain types of
  habitats and the protection of certain species
  that will qualify land as WCLs.
• Finally it sets acreage requirements and
  limitations, ownership restrictions, prior land
  classifications and penalties for noncompliance.

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Why?

• Wildlife belong to the people and as such are a
  valuable part of our state
• Allow landowners who truly manage their property
  for the benefit of wildlife to continue to do so
  in the face of ever increasing property values.
• Provide a mechanism for counties to retain open
  space while meeting state conservation
  objectives.
• Retain a mechanism to recoup lost revenue should
  the landowner default on their agreement or the
  property change hands.

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Groundbreaking!

• The first program to recognize and provide
  benefits for the management of Non-game wildlife
  resources.
• Recognizes that there is a cost to landowners
  that manage their lands for the benefit of
  wildlife.
• Utilizes the State Wildlife Action Plan to
  identify priority habitats that should be
  conserved in N.C.
• Creates a positive program to protect open space.

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Requirements for Participation

• Acreage
• Land Use
• Prior Land Classification
• Ownership
• Penalty for Not Fulfilling Landowner Obligations

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Acreage

• WCL must consist of 20 contiguous qualifying
  acres.
• Must be managed under a written Wildlife Habitat
  Conservation Agreement (WHCA) with N.C. Wildlife
  Resources Commission (NCWRC).
• No more than 100 acres of land is eligible per
  landowner in any 1 county.

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Land Use

• Must meet at least one of two conditions
• Protect a wildlife species on the protected
  wildlife species list found in NCAC 10I.0103,
  .0104, or .0105.
• Conserve one or more priority wildlife habitats
  listed in the statute.

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Protect a Wildlife Species

• Protect an animal species that lives on the
  land and, as of January 1 of the year for which
  the benefit of this section is claimed, is on a
  North Carolina protected animal list published by
  the Commission under G.S. 113-333.

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Defining Lives and Protect!

• Lives means a wildlife species has been
  identified on the land at the time the benefit is
  claimed.
• Protect means that the species is protected
  through appropriate land management strategies.
• Observation of a species does not automatically
  qualify a property.
• Demonstrable evidence must be presented that both
  the lives and protect criteria are being met.
• For migratory species, the land must provided
  breeding, wintering or foraging habitat to
  qualify.

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Conserve a Priority Wildlife Habitat

• Conserve any of the following priority animal
  wildlife habitats longleaf pine forest, early
  successional habitat, small wetland community,
  stream and riparian zone, rock outcrop, or bat
  cave.

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Defining Conserve!

• Means to manage for the continued wildlife
  benefits of one of the priority habitats listed
  in the statute.
• Qualifying habitats may include lands surrounding
  the habitat if those lands are necessary and
  utilized for conservation of the existing
  habitat.
• Conservation does not preclude some human uses of
  the land.

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Prior Land Qualification

• Landowners may transfer from current PUV to WCL
  with no penalties or waiting period so long as
  they meet the WCL qualifications.
• Lands not enrolled in PUV must satisfy both the
  NCWRC and the County that the land has been used
  for the purpose outlined in the WHCA for 3 years
  proceeding January 1 of the year in which the
  benefit is claimed.

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Ownership

• Landowner must be an individual, a family
  business entity, or a family trust.
• If a new owner acquires the land already
  classified as WCL then that owner has 60 days to
  apply with the county and sign an agreement with
  the NCWRC to keep the classification.

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Wildlife Habitat Conservation Agreement

• The Agreement Must
• Document the presence of a protected species or
  the existence of one or more priority habitats.
• Describe the management strategies in place or
  planned with appropriate timelines to ensure the
  continued existence of either or both.

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Page 1 of the WHCA
Applicant Information
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Page 2 of the WHCA
8. Wildlife Conservation Land Information
Table Refer to instructions sheet for completing
this table.
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Management Summary Sheets

• Identify the habitat or protected species they
  are submitting for qualification.
• Submit a management strategy that outlines mgmt.
  actions and timeline.
• Provide any other documentation that establishes
  their qualification for the classification.

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• Management Summary Sheet
• Longleaf Pine Forests
• Identify the areas on the property map for which
  classification as Wildlife Conservation Land is
  being claimed for this priority habitat type.
  (i.e. Area 1, Area 2)
• Indicate the planned management practices for the
  Longleaf Pine habitat on your property.
• (Check all that apply and provide supporting
  information/documentation as necessary)
• Establishment of Longleaf Pine stand
• Total acres Map areas(s)
• Tree per acre
• 2 or 3 year burning rotation on established or
  natural stands
• Total acres annually Map area(s)
• Thinning
• Map area(s) Basal area
• Additional Comments/Explanation

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Process

• Landowner makes application to the NCWRC for a
  WHCA.
• NCWRC staff makes contact with landowner.
• Landowner completes application and provides
  documentation, site visit generally conducted.
• Landowner and NCWRC representative sign the
  agreement.
• Landowner makes application with the County and
  submits agreement.

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Points of Interest

• Both the WHCA and the County Application will
  require a map.
• Maps must be printed to scale with habitat areas
  clearly identified and the acreage can be
  calculated.
• We are currently working on options for
  landowners to develop maps, the NCWRC will not
  produce the map or the plan.

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Map Legend Gives Total Acres for Area of Interest
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The NCWRC Is committed to this program and
assisting landowners and counties alike with
successful implementation.
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QUESTIONS?
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Brad Howard NCWRCbrad.howard_at_ncwildlife.org828
-294-2605