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The Coastal Land Trust utilizes many sources of funding for purchasing land as well as funding conservation agreements. A majority of our funding is derived from public sources at the state and federal level. Applying for public monies is a complex and competitive process. The Coastal Land Trust, however, has an excellent record of receiving a majority of the public grants it applies for.

Funding land conservation through public sources is often a win-win situation. Landowners are financially compensated by selling conservation agreements or through the direct sale of their land, while the general public benefits from the enhancement of water quality, increasing recreation opportunities, and preserving the natural and historical character of their community.

Listed below are major public funding sources we have used in the past to help protect land in coastal North Carolina.

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Legacy Program was created by the U.S. Congress in the 1990 Farm Bill. Its purpose is to help landowners, state and local governments, and private land trusts identify and protect environmentally important forest lands that are threatened by present and future conversion to non-forest uses. The Forest Legacy Program is designed to assure that both traditional uses of private lands and the public values of America's forest resources are protected for future generations. Projects are reviewed first by a state committee, which then submits a prioritized list of NC projects to the US Forest Service which has a national review team make final priorities. See the NC Division of Forest Legacy Program's Web Site for more information.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's North American Wetland Conservation Act Program (NAWCA) - These grants are available to fund conservation of wetlands and wetland-dependent fish and wildlife (waterfowl) through acquisition, restoration and/or enhancement. Grants range from $51,000 to $1 million. These grants may be provided directly to state, local governments, and non-profit organizations. This program strongly prefers to fund diverse conservation partnerships. More information is available here.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Wetland Grant Program - Grants are awarded to Great Lakes and coastal States and Trust Territories for projects that restore, acquire, manage, or enhance coastal lands and waters. Projects must provide for the long-term conservation of such lands and waters and the fish and wildlife dependent on them. The Coastal Grants Program gives priority to the restoration of barrier islands associated maritime forest, coastal wetlands ecosystems, endangered species, anadromous fish species and to the building of financial and cooperative, private and governmental partnerships.

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program - The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, the USDA partners with State, tribal, local governments, or non-profit conservation organizations to acquire conservation easements from private landowners. The program gives priority to farmland with prime, unique, or farmland of statewide or local importance and seeks to help create large protected areas for viable agricultural production.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Recovery Lands Program - The Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program provides funding to States and Territories for acquisitions of habitat that support approved recovery plans. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Web Site has additional information on this program.

Environmental Protection Agency Grants - The EPA offers a variety of grant programs including the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Program grants. This grant program is administered through the NC Division of Water Quality. They accept proposals from government agencies and nonprofit organizations to address non-point sources of pollution in the state. They fund projects like demonstration of innovative Best Management Practices for agriculture, forestry and wastewater system; educational projects, limited research, some monitoring and restoration.

Natural Resources Conservation Service's Grant Programs - The NRCS has a number of cost-share/grant programs that involved acquisition of conservation easements including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The Wetland Reserve Program provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners to address wetland, wildlife habitat, soil, water, and related natural resources concerns on private lands in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner. The program provides an opportunity for landowners to receive financial incentives to enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring marginal land from agriculture. This program involves the establishment of permanent or 30-year conservation easements or restoration cost-share funds. A full list of grant programs offered by the NRCS can be found here.

North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF) - Established in 1996 and funded by direct appropriations from the General Assembly, the CWMTF is managed by a 21-member board of trustees, appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House and President of the Senate. The fund provides grants for wastewater improvements, riparian buffer protection and restoration, stormwater run-off projects, watershed planning and land acquisition in critical watershed areas. Find more information about the fund here.

North Carolina Farmland Preservation Fund (FPTF) - Established in 1986, but not funded until 1998, the FPTF has been administered on an annual basis by the Conservation Trust for North Carolina through a contract with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The fund has provided more than $2.45 million for the permanent protection of more than 4,275 acres on 30 farms statewide. The program is essential to North Carolina's ability to maximize the amount of federal funding available through the new farm bill and other sources. Find more information about the fund here.

North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund (NHTF) - Established in 1987, the NHTF is funded by 25% of state deed excise stamp tax revenues on a portion of personalized license plat sales. The NHTF is managed by a board of trustees and the Natural Heritage Program under the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The fund provides money to acquire lands with significant natural heritage value. Find more information about the fund here.

DENR's Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP) - The Ecosystem Enhancement Program is a joint effort by the Departments of Transportation and of the Environment and Natural Resources to use state and federal highway money to protect wetlands and streams statewide. Funding is available for the acquisition of riparian buffers, and for wetland and stream restoration projects in areas where NC DOT has mitigation needs. More information about the EEP Program can be found here.

Smithfield Foods/NC Attorney General Agreement - Smithfield Foods, Inc., and the Attorney General entered into an agreement, in part, to provide funds to promote environmental programs in North Carolina. This Agreement empowers the Attorney General to designate recipients of monies in the fund "to enhance the environment of the State, including eastern North Carolina, to obtain environmental easements, construct or maintain wetlands and other such environmental purposes, as the Attorney General deems appropriate.