Contributed
The Seven Lakes Garden Club recently welcomed Three Rivers Land Trust Executive Director Travis Morehead and the development associate for local business, Alexis Rowe, to share the mission, goals and accomplishments of the organization.
Formed in 1995, TRLT is a land conservation organization that operates across a 15-county region. Travis laid out the case for the importance of conserving North Carolina farmland. Agriculture is the largest industry in North Carolina.
Two key terms for TRLT are conservation and preservation. Conservation methods use the land as intended for farming or lumber. Preservation methods perpetually lock in existing lands. Both processes yield good results.
TRLT has three focus areas: expanding public lands, saving family farms, and protecting local waters. Through their work and the desire of farm families to preserve their farms from development, they have preserved over 50,000 acres over the last 20 years.
The trust has also preserved areas with ponds and streams that are home to rare species as public lands. It partners with government agencies to create or expand public lands for public
access and recreational use, ensuring future generations will always be able to enjoy outdoor recreation in this beautiful region.
It also works with farmers to conserve land through conservation easements. This protects the land from development forever, regardless of who owns the land in the future.
Since inception, TRLT has permanently conserved over 360 miles of river and stream corridors. The conserved corridors act as a natural filter for our region’s rivers and streams by reducing sediment and allowing water to reabsorb back in the ground. The organization also recently expanded the footprint of Uwharrie National Forest.
The TRLT has many events and programs. With support, it can continue to conserve the beautiful rural landscapes and natural resources in our region.
