For the ninth year in a row, Audubon members from across the state flocked to the North Carolina General Assembly on April 29 to meet with lawmakers and advocate for important bird-friendly policies. More than 70 advocates spoke with their elected officials in-person and virtually about keeping family land intact, protecting wetlands, re-enforcing emissions goals, and conservation trust funding.
Advocates showed their lawmakers just how much their local constituents care about providing a healthy environment for birds and people.
“Our members really stepped up to rally for birds this year,” Policy Director Zach Wallace said. “Their hard work and dedication was evident in every lawmaker meeting and handout drop-off throughout the day. Now it’s time for us to build on that momentum.”
Advocacy Day wouldn’t have been possible without our chapter advocacy leaders, who scheduled (and rescheduled!) lawmaker meetings and supported their local advocates every step of the way. Thank you to John Koon, Molly Presser, Robin Wood, Kim Richmond, Joe Amodeo, Allen Kindman, Steve Matadobra, and Anne Wilkinson!
For many chapters, Advocacy Day is a chance to reconnect with their senators and representatives and remind them of our key issues. Forsyth Audubon continued discussions with Senator Paul Lowe on heirs property and the importance of conservation funding. The chapter also had one of their youngest participants yet, a high school senior.
Wake Audubon members spoke with Senator Benton Sawrey and thanked him for sponsoring the Uniform Partition to Heirs Property Act in the Senate. This important bill that would protect family farms and open access to much-needed conservation programs.
Blue Ridge Audubon members met with their lawmakers virtually and highlighted the importance of the conservation trust funds for Hurricane Helene recovery.
“It was extremely heartening to see our chapters come together to support birds and the places they need,” said Executive Director Curtis Smalling. “This is one of the greatest tools we have to make a real difference, and it pays off every year.”
Audubon's 2025 Policy Priorities:
Protecting family land: The heirs property bill, known formally as the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (SB 317 & HB 976), would give family landowners more due process to hold on to their land in the face of forced sales and help ensure they are eligible for federal conservation funding. This is especially important in rural areas that are dealing with development pressures from North Carolina’s rapid growth. The bill was filed in both chambers this session but stalled in the House before the crossover deadline. We are talking with lawmakers about potential opportunities, though the path forward is now more difficult.
Conservation Trust Funds: When we protect and restore habitat, natural areas, and clean air and water, we ensure a better future for birds and people. Trust funds are critical for birds. The Land and Water Fund has helped protect over 300,000 acres of important bird habitat across the state. This represents two-thirds of the land protected by the trust funds. We’re asking for sustained and/or increased recurring funding for the state’s conservation trust funds in the biennial budget.
Wetlands: In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in its Sackett decision that wetlands without a surface connection to larger bodies of water are outside of federal jurisdiction. This left it up to states to decide how they want to protect isolated and seasonal wetlands. Then NC passed a law matching the new federal definition. As a result, more than 1 million acres of wetlands in the state lost protections. The wetlands now at risk are important isolated and seasonal wetlands. We’re asking lawmakers to support future efforts for North Carolina to bolster wetlands protections.
Bi-partisan emissions goals: Senate Bill 261, filed March 10, would get rid of the state’s 2030 goal of reducing carbon emissions by 70 percent of 2005 levels. The bill leaves in place the longer-term goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. Without fast action to reduce emissions, more than 200 bird species are at risk in North Carolina, with many potentially being pushed out or wiped out from the state. We’re asking lawmakers to vote against the bill and ensure that birds have a place to thrive for generations to come and that people have reliable and clean energy.
As this year’s legislative session continues, we’re hopeful our priority issues will make progress.
