Expanding Access to Conservation Benefits
Introducing the Good Ground Initiative
Since 1983, Triangle Land Conservancy has conserved land and water to help the Triangle region become an increasingly healthy and vibrant place to live. While TLC conserves land to provide benefits to the entire Triangle community, many groups have historically not had access to all of the benefits of conservation work, in particular financial benefits like lowered taxes and funds for easement purchases.
Through the Good Ground Initiative, which launched in 2022 thanks to funding from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, TLC strives to conserve more farms and forests while also helping more people afford to own land.
Addressing Barriers to Land Access
Farmland Loss
North Carolina is one of the top agricultural states in the nation, but rapid growth and development is creating a major threat to farmland. North Carolina is currently on track to lose nearly 1.2 million acres of farmland to development by 2040.
Prohibitive Land Prices
In the Triangle, land values are often $15,000 per acre or more. These high land prices frequently prevent new & beginning producers from purchasing land to settle and grow on.
Conservation ≠ Ownership
Many of the entities that provide training and education about agriculture, forest management, land stewardship and conservation do not have land resources to sell.
How We're Making it Happen
Triangle Land Conservancy relies on decades of staff and board experience and expertise to conserve high quality conservation land and then work with partners and land seekers to provide affordable conservation land ownership.
Community Collaboration
TLC works with community groups and leaders who are committed to making sure everyone can benefit from land conservation. Together, we offer comprehensive resources and education centered on conservation, financing land-based enterprises, and more. These resources highlight the responsibilities that come with owning conserved land—responsibilities that must be carefully considered by those interested in using the land for agriculture, forestry, recreation, or other purposes. We also advocate for funding to help pay for surveys and on-the-ground land management responsibilities.
Conservation Tools
TLC’s Good Ground Initiative employs conservation tools like Buy-Protect-Sell, a conservation model in which land trusts buy and protect land with a conservation easement, an agreement that permanently protects land and decreases its total market value by restricting the option to develop. These restrictions then allow TLC to sell the land at a reduced value while protecting the conservation benefits the land provides.
How You Can Help
Learn more about how you can support this work.
Looking for land to steward?
If you are interested in learning more about buying conserved land, please fill out the land seeker interest form. This allows TLC to both get to know you and helps us prioritize projects that best meet the needs of our community.
Do you own land and want to leave a legacy?
Consider conservation in your land transition and estate planning. The Good Ground Initiative may provide an option that secures the conservation value of your property while also supporting more land ownership opportunities.
Would you like to support this work financially?
Discover how your donation can expand the impact of Good Ground. Please contact the Philanthropy team if you would like to talk about ways you can support the program with a donation, pledge, or or no-interest bridge loan.
