I bet that many of you are like me and enjoy watching nature change her colors in North Carolina's forests over the course of the year, especially the master quiltwork of autumn's lovely reds, yellows, and oranges. But it seems that nature and her hues are being pushed aside. More and more we are seeing the same pigments, but they're coloring something very different -- the yellow of huge cranes and bulldozers, red clay scraped bare of its vegetation, the orange of construction signs designating yet another site where development won out over open space, all in the name of progress. Not a day goes by without news about overcrowded schools, urban sprawl, or congested traffic. The secret is out - the Triangle is a great place to live, and it is attracting more and more people.

Sure, the Triangle offers great opportunity, but does it have to come at the expense of some of those things that make it so special? In 1983, a group formed, committed to the idea that we need to balance development with sound planning, including the preservation of our natural areas. They organized a land trust and named it the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC). The TLC is a private, nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to protect the most important natural and scenic areas of North Carolina's Triangle region. TLC protects and cares for land in Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Lee, Orange and Wake counties by using members' contributions to identify the most important natural areas and acquiring protective interests in them. Members' contributions are also used to care for these areas and to educate the public about natural areas and wildlife in the region.

Inherent in TLC's mission is the idea that, with proper planning, there is room in the Triangle for all living beings. Much like vegetarians who seek to live in harmony with nature, as well as like advocates who care for animals, many TLC members feel that North Carolina without its native inhabitants such as the endangered bobcat, red wolf, wild turkey, fox, four-toed salamander, thorey's grayback dragonfly, and red cockaded woodpecker would be an impoverished state, one certainly not representing meaningful progress. It is imperative that we set aside suitable habitat for our neighbors, and we are working hard to protect their homes. TLC has prepared inventories in order to prioritize land protection efforts so as to protect biological diversity, maintain water quality, preserve the cultural heritage of our communities, and enhance recreational opportunities by expanding park and greenway systems.

We currently protect 1315 acres through 15 properties (609 acres) that we own and 12 more (706 acres) that we have conservation easements on. Included are the White Pines Natural Area, a 260-acre disjunct community of white pines at the confluence of the Deep and Rocky rivers in Chatham County; the Andrews-Lloyd Farm in Orange County, an eighth-generation family farm established before the American Revolution; Swift Creek Bluffs, 23 acres of wildflowers and mature hardwood forest in Wake County; Flower Hill, a 10-acre stand of catawba rhododendron on Moccasin Creek in Johnston County; and the Margaret Reid Wildflower Garden in Raleigh, a garden of native plants rescued over the last 50 years from places cleared for development.

We have more than 1500 members, without whose support we would be unable to protect environmentally important land. TLC's members offer their financial support and contribute hundreds of volunteer hours. If you believe that the preservation of open space and protection of the Triangle's forests and waterways for the benefit of all living beings is important, become a member of the Triangle Land Conservancy. Memberships begin at $35 per year, and this includes a subscription to TLC's quarterly newsletter. More than 80 cents of every dollar contributed to TLC goes directly to land preservation. For more information, call us at the TLC office or visit our website at www.tlc-nc.org.

I invite TVSers to join us for a hike along Richland Creek in Raleigh on Saturday, October 10 at 3:00 p.m. (see calendar). Richland Creek is one of TLC's priority stream corridors because of its importance to wildlife and water quality. We will explore the creek and its role in connecting Umstead State Park to NC State University's Schenck Forest. After the hike, we will gather at the picnic area in Schenck Forest for a talk and a potluck dinner.

Saving land for tomorrow. It truly is the greatest gift one can give, and with your help, we can make it a reality.

PAST ORGANIZATIONS WE'VE FEATURED
Please take advantage of what these groups have to offer, and consider supporting them!