Cutting the Green Tape in North Carolina

Abstract

Regulators and practitioners can face significant barriers to ecosystem conservation and restoration. This study attempts to identify those barriers in North Carolina and develops recommendations for increasing the pace and scale of these activities. Doing so can support implementation of the 2020 North Carolina Natural and Working Lands Action Plan, which aims to enhance natural carbon sinks and provide a variety of benefits to people through conservation and management of natural and working lands. A list of barriers to effective and equitable conservation and restoration for forests and watershed protection was generated following a literature review and interviews with stakeholders across state agencies, academia, and others. Barriers include gaps within the existing governance structures, lack of funding for incentive programs, agency capacity constraints, barriers in equitable access to funding and resources, a deficit of political will, and inadequate public awareness. Further analysis and case studies inform policy recommendations.