Our 25-26 Policy Agenda lays out the policy priorities that Audubon will advance to tackle the dual threats of habitat loss and climate change and reverse hemispheric bird declines, in line with Audubon's Flight Plan milestones. We will partner with our chapters to advocate for these policies at the local, state, and federal level. We will work to stop polices that have negative impacts on birds and their habitat in North Carolina.  

Habitat Conservation – Habitat loss is driving bird declines across North Carolina and the hemisphere. Policy solutions will play a key role in protecting and restoring habitat from mountains to coast. 

Wetlands (local/state) - Wetlands provide habitat for birds and are a vital resource for people, but they are under threat. We aim to protect and restore wetlands and maintain no net loss in acreage in North Carolina by advocating for:   

• Incentives & statutory or regulatory protections for wetlands at risk post-Sackett. 
• Funding for restoration projects that provide bird habitat, clean water & shoreline erosion protection, and flood mitigation.   
• Protection for at risk & ecologically important wetlands.  

Coastal Resiliency (local/state) - Coastal habitats serve as natural infrastructure for people, filtering water and protecting communities from extreme weather and erosion. As North Carolina’s coastal population grows, we will advocate for nature-based solutions and support comprehensive planning & review procedures that prioritize consideration of adverse habitat & climate impacts of new & expanded infrastructure.  

Urban Conservation (local) – Cities and suburban green space provide habitat for birds, critical outdoor space for people, and help keep air cleaner and manage urban flooding. We will partner with chapters to pass bird-friendly policies that are most effective at the local level, including native plants ordinances, Lights Out programs, and land-use rules and other urban forestry policies that protect and grow tree canopy.  

Heirs Property- (state/federal) – Ensuring family land is protected and eligible for federal conservation and disaster programs are good for North Carolina’s farmers and our birds. We will advocate for these landowners by passing the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act and other policies that reduce involuntary land loss. Support funding for legal assistance for family landowners is another opportunity.   

Financing Bird Conservation – North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. Public financing for conservation must grow as well, if we are going to protect habitat and the natural resources that make North Carolina so special. 

Trust Funds (state) - Conservation trust funds are our state’s most important funding tool for land protection. Through ongoing advocacy, our goal is to maintain and grow appropriations for the NC Land & Water Fund, Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund.   

New Funding (local/state) – We will support the creation of new funding streams and incentives at the local and state level, to support public & private lands conservation. Supporting the growth of the newly created conservation tax credit is another opportunity. 

Climate – Audubon’s Survival by Degrees report tells us birds face unprecedented threats from climate change. A shift to clean energy is critical for birds’ long-term survival, and our own. That’s why Audubon advocates for the swift and responsible deployment of renewable energy. 

Renewable Energy (local/state/federal) – We will advocate for policies that encourage increasing properly sited renewable energy and transmission infrastructure while retiring carbon emitting energy sources. In particular, North Carolina has a unique opportunity on offshore wind, because of the vast resources available off our coast. 

Natural Climate Solutions (local/state) – We will support policies that protect natural carbon sinks, including working lands, forests, wetlands and a variety of coastal habitats, while partnering with communities to advocate for their specific opportunities for co-benefits from these projects (flood risk reduction, forest products, and source water protection for example).