Audubon Council of N.C. (c/o Ed Harrison, 58 Newton Dr., Durham 27707-9744; 919/490-1566): The Council is comprised of representatives from each of the eight Audubon Society chapters across N.C. Ed Harrison, state representative and liaison to other organizations and agencies, can make referrals for council members and individual chapters. The council and chapters conduct public education, lobbying, and research on issues of wildlife/endangered species, habitat protection (including wetlands), and water quality.
Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) (P.O. Box 878, Glendale Springs 28629; 910/982-2691): A network of 24 chapters across N.C., three in Virginia, and some in other southeastern states. Works on a variety of issues including land use planning (especially in mountain areas) and wetlands. Provides sample letters and technical assistance in using Freedom of Information Act and in examining state documents. Conducts research.
Citizens Against Clearcutting in the Asheville Watershed (CACAW) (c/o Judd Dougherty, 5 Old Cove Rd., Black Mountain 28711; 704/669-5032): Advocates for the responsible stewardship of the Asheville watershed. Acts as a watchdog.
Citizens for Quality Development (P.O. Box 729, Asheville 28802; 704/251-0400; Carolyn Wallace): Conducts research and public education on issues of land use planning, livable cities, and development. Creates community networks to enhance citizen participation in decisionmaking and policymaking. Works in cooperation with other organizations.
Conservation Council (P.O. Box 37564, Raleigh 27627; 919/851-5870): A coalition of groups and individuals which monitors legislation and lobbies at the General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Works on a number of issues, including natural areas, development, and land use.
Ducks Unlimited South Atlantic Flyway, Regional Field Operations (c/o Donald Manley, Rt. 6, Box 559, Clinton 28328; 910/592-3898): Raises funds for the preservation and restoration of habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Preservation is done by state and federal agencies. 120 chapters across N.C. Publishes the quarterly North Carolina Ducks Unlimited Magazine. The national headquarters publishes Ducks Unlimited, a bimonthly magazine.
Duke University Graduate School of the Environment Wetlands Center (P.O. Box 90328, Durham 27708-0328; 919/613-8008): Works mostly with Duke University students but can provide information for the public on wetlands in the U.S. Contains much general information on wetlands in books, papers, and journal articles. Distributes a wetlands map of the N.C. coast.
N.C. Environmental Defense Fund (128 E. Hargett St., Ste. 202, Raleigh 27601; 919/821-7793): Conducts research and advocacy on various issues including wetlands protection. Distributes Carolina Wetlands: Our Vanishing Resource, a report which describes the decline of N.C. wetlands, wetland types, disappearance rates, threats to the wetlands, and recommendations for government action. Also distributes From Oxford to Aurora, a report published jointly with the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation which examines the performance history of publicly-owned sewage treatment plants in the Pamlico-Tar River Basin and makes recommendations for improvement.
Forest Protection/Biodiversity Project (P.O. Box 3141, Asheville 28802; 704/258-2667): Works for the protection of threatened Southern Appalachian species and natural communities. Integrates sound biology with conservation law. Conducts public education and demonstrations. A member organization of SouthPAW of the Preserve Appalachian Wilderness Network, and of the Foundation for Global Sustainability. Publishes a bimonthly newsletter, South PAW Journal.
Friends of State Parks (c/o Bill Noonan, 309 W. 3rd Ave., No. 2D, Lexington 27292; 704/246-2657): Conducts advocacy, lobbying, and public education regarding N.C. state parks. Cooperates with state agencies by assisting them in determining needs and achieving goals. Publishes a quarterly newsletter.
Katuah Bioregional Organization (c/o Rob Messick, Rt. 8, Box 323, Lenoir 28645; 704/754-6097): Addresses broad issues of human culture and how it interfaces with natural systems in Southern Appalachia. Examines natural limits of human habitats and develops ideas about how communities can function within those limits. Published the quarterly Katuah Journal until Spring 1993 (back issues available).
Land Stewardship Council (P.O. Box 25716, Raleigh 27611-5716; 919/836-1990): Advocates for the connection of religion and ethics to environmental and land use issues. Assists religious organizations in their efforts toward becoming more environmentally sound. Publishes a quarterly newsletter, Cry North Carolina, and occasional papers.
Long Branch Environmental Education Center (P.O. Box 369, Leicester 28748; 704/683-3662): Works on a wide range of topics including conservation of the black bear and its habitat, particularly in the Southern Appalachian region. Conducts programs for adults and children. Conducts applied research and presents findings through publications and exhibits.
MooreFORCE (c/o Harry Hubert, P.O. Box 514, Southern Pines 28388; 910/692-5331): Works on issues of land use planning, forestry practices, endangered species, and other areas. Focuses on Moore County but supports statewide groups. Publishes a monthly newsletter.
Pamlico-Tar River Foundation (P.O. Box 1854, Washington 27889; 919/946-7211 or 9492): Produces educational materials, gives talks, provides technical assistance, and conducts research and advocacy regarding issues including wetlands and land use planning/growth management. Maintains a library of materials on natural resources and environmental issues, primarily pertaining to the coast. Publishes the quarterly newsletter, Currents.
Pender Watch and Conservancy (c/o Howard Stern, P.O. Box 662, Hampstead 28443; 910/270-9733): Works on various issues including wetlands and land use. Conducts advocacy, provides technical assistance, produces educational materials, lobbies, and organizes outings. Works with the N.C. Nature Conservancy. Publishes the quarterly newsletter Pender Watch.
People's Alliance (P.O. Box 3053, Durham 27715-3053; 919/682-7777): Conducts public education, lobbying, community organizing, and research on development and land use and other topics. Focuses on the Durham area but at times works on statewide issues. Publishes the monthly People's Alliance Newsletter.
Piedmont Land Conservancy (P.O. Box 4025, Greensboro 27404-4025; 910/299-2651): Researches land use and conservation in the Piedmont region. Conducts Natural Heritage Inventories in Guilford and Stokes counties and in the future, in Rockingham, Alamance, and Forsyth counties as well. Preserves land in the Piedmont region by arranging easements, purchases, donations, and stewardship programs for landowners. Publishes Piedmont Land Conservancy Newsline.
N.C. Rail - Trails (c/o Al Capehart, 703 Ninth St., Ste. 124, Durham 27705; 919/493-6394): Retains future transportation options while also creating a system of linear greenways for conservation, recreation, and public paths. Monitors the state rail system and pursues corridor protection as railroads abandon lines. Extends information, speakers, project counsel, and technical support to local rail-trail initiatives throughout N.C. Publishes the quarterly newsletter Little Toot.
Roanoke/Chowan Wildlife Club (c/o Earl Edwards, P.O. Box 707, Winton 27986; 919/357-0639): Works on conservation issues with an emphasis on Gates, Hertford, Northampton, and Bertie counties, but active statewide. Cooperates with the State in forming wildlife access areas. Owns and manages a protected conservation area, where public education programs and special events are conducted. Awards scholarships. Affiliated with the N.C. Wildlife Federation.
Sierra Club - N.C. Chapter:
Southern Environmental Law Center - N.C. Office (SELC) (137 E. Franklin St., Ste. 404, Chapel Hill 27514; 919/967-1450): A non-profit organization which conducts environmental legal work including wetlands protection. Publishes a quarterly newsletter, Southern Resources., and A Citizen's Guide to Protecting Wetlands in NC. The Guide contains much information on existing legal protection for wetlands, three paths to protecting wetlands, a bibliography, and instructions on using the Freedom of Information Act. The Guide also contains appendices with contact information for related agencies and organizations, excerpts from laws affecting wetlands, descriptions of major wetland types, the Memorandum of Understanding between U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a reprint of the Model Non-Tidal Wetland Protection Ordinance.
Triangle Greenways Council (c/o Larkin Kirkman, P.O. Box 2746, Raleigh 27602; 919/828-5242): Plans, constructs, and maintains greenways and greenway trails in the Triangle area. Works with local, state, and federal officials, other organizations, and individuals. Conducts public education. Distributes maps for existing trails. Provides technical assistance to interested people outside the Triangle. Publishes a quarterly newsletter.
Triangle Rails to Trails Conservancy, Inc. (703 Ninth St., Ste. 123, Durham 27705): Works to preserve local abandoned railroad corridors for future transportation and other interim uses in the Triangle J Council of Governments Service area which includes Durham, Orange, Wake, Chatham, Johnson, and Lee counties.
Western N.C. Alliance (70 Woodfin Place, #03, Asheville 28801; 704/258-8737): Conducts research and community organizing on issues of forest resources and aquatic biodiversity in western N.C. The Alliance is composed of numerous member organizations which are organized into chapters and task forces. Publishes the quarterly newsletter Accent.
Western N.C. Tomorrow (c/o Susan Smith, P.O. Box 222, Cullowhee 28723; 704/227-7492): Works to develop a leadership base that effectively addresses issues of concern to the region, including natural resource protection and management. Provides a framework through which individuals and organizations can meet to examine problems and possibilities and share information. Encourages greater citizen participation in policy and program development. Published a report jointly with the Mountain Outdoor Recreation Alliance called Western NC Outdoor Recreation Impact Study.
N.C. Wildlife Federation (1022 Washington St., Raleigh 27605; 919/833-1923): Lobbies at the General Assembly and conducts occasional seminars on wetlands and wildlife, with an emphasis on endangered species. Publishes the bimonthly newsletter Friend of Wildlife. Produces other publications.
Guide to the National Wildlife Refuges. By Laura and William Riley. New York: Collier Books, 1992. First published in 1979.
North Carolina Wildlife Viewing Guide. By Charles E. Roe. Helena and Billings, MT: Falcon Press, 1992. A book of 90 outstanding locations in the state for viewing wildlife.
Parks Directory of the United States. Edited by Darren C. Smith. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, Inc., 1992. The directory contains general and contact information on "3,700 national and state parks, recreation areas, historic sites, battlefields, monuments, forests, preserves, memorials, seashores, and other designated recreation areas."
State Parks of North Carolina. By Walter C. Biggs, Jr. and James F. Parnell. Winston-Salem, NC: J.F. Blair, 1989. Includes entries for 27 state parks, two natural areas, eight undeveloped natural areas, one developed natural area, and four state recreation areas.
Tread softly: Carolina Conservation Quarterly. Published by John Runkle. "A Guide to North Carolina's State Parks." Summer/Fall 1983, Vol. 1, No. 3. Contains descriptions of 40 state parks. Available in some libraries (especially academic libraries).
The Visitor's Guide to the Birds of the Eastern National Parks: U.S. and Canada. By Roland H. Wauer. Santa Fe, NM: John Muir Publications, 1992.
Wild Earth. A periodical "advocating the restoration and protection of all natural elements of biodiversity." Includes scientific writings, investigative reporting and news, and literature. Contributors are from across the country, including N.C. Published quarterly by the Cenozoic Society (P.O. Box 492, Canton, NY 13617).