Stewardship & Restoration
When TLC protects land, we make a promise to care for it forever. From regular site visits and connecting with landowners to the ongoing care and restoration of habitats, TLC works to ensure protected lands last.
How we care for the land
Monitor and maintain
Conservation easements must be monitored and managed annually by TLC to ensure that the land is cared for, and the easement terms have not been violated. TLC primarily relies on onsite inspections, where a land steward will visit a property annually to observe and evaluate the condition of the land, compliance with legal agreements and permitted practices, and identify any notable changes and potential issues or concerns.
Ecological restoration and active management
Many natural ecosystems in the Triangle have been significantly damaged, negatively impacting biodiversity and our communities’ benefits from natural lands. With ecological restoration and active management, TLC works to restore habitats, support wildlife, and improve community access to nature.
- For every property it owns, TLC creates a management plan. This includes key information about a property – its history, an ecological assessment, the vision for the property, and management goals and strategies to achieve them. It also includes stakeholder input, funding needs, and both short- and long-term work plans. These management plans guide how each property is restored and managed.
- Ecological restoration is the process of assisting in the recovery of a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem. TLC uses proven land management practices such as planting native species, invasive species removal, prescribed burns, and forest management.
Active management is how TLC keeps our public nature preserves safe and inviting for visitors. Staff, volunteers, professionals, and partner organizations work year-round maintaining trails, kiosks, and parking areas while protecting natural resources.
Get Involved
Caring for TLC protected lands is a great way to get involved in local conservation. Our team relies on a network of dedicated volunteers to help us maintain our seven public nature preserves, more than 55 miles of trails, and steward more than 180 conservation easements. From removing invasive species to reporting trail conditions to becoming a site steward, there are plenty of ways for anyone to contribute.
