For ten years, Audubon members have flocked to the North Carolina Legislature to fulfill with lawmakers and advocate for bird-friendly insurance policies. From passing a sweeping bipartisan local weather discount invoice to constructing momentum for native crops, our advocates have made vital progress for birds and folks throughout the state.
This yr was no completely different, with 50 members touring from the mountains to the coast and all over the place in between to fulfill with their elected officers on our precedence points for the brief session: rising recurring funding for the conservation belief funds and guaranteeing the conservation tax credit score continues previous its present 2026 sundown.
Government Director Curtis Smalling is aware of how essential it’s to maintain exhibiting up yearly.
“Advocacy Day is the in the future a yr that we’ve got the chance to remind lawmakers in-person concerning the significance of defending habitat for birds and folks,” stated Smalling. “We’re grateful to everybody who spoke with their lawmaker, joined conferences with different constituents, met with legislative assistants, and dropped off handouts.”
Mobilizing our members for this essential day wouldn’t be potential with out the work of our chapter advocacy leaders who scheduled conferences and supported their delegations each step of the best way. Thanks to Joe Amodeo, Pam Wilson, Anne Wilkinson, Blaise Strenn, Patrick DePinto, Wendy Hawkins, and Heather Brannan!
A spotlight from the day included college students from the College of North Carolina at Wilmington and the College of North Carolina at Chapel Hill becoming a member of Cape Concern Audubon for a gathering with Senator Michael Lee. They talked about their spark chook moments and work with Painted Buntings in Wilmington.
Wake Audubon member Nicole Laurito met with Senator Benton Sawrey and linked over their favourite downtown Clayton companies, parks, and trails. “These conversations assist us get to know our elected officers in a very significant method and construct help for birds in key districts,” stated coverage director Zach Wallace.
Audubon’s 2026 Coverage Priorities
This session, we’re advocating for will increase in recurring funding to all three conservation belief funds:
- NC Land and Water Fund
- NC Parks and Recreation Belief Fund
- NC Agricultural Growth and Farmland Preservation Belief Fund
This yr particularly, we’re constructing help for the Farmland Preservation Fund. It’s because North Carolina is projected to lose about 1.2 million acres of farmland by 2040, rating second in america for projected farmland loss, which has huge implications for birds and rural communities.
We’re additionally asking lawmakers to retain the Conservation Tax Credit score. In 2024, lawmakers reinstated the Conservation Tax Credit score, which offers incentives for personal land conservation that defend forests, farms, fish and wildlife habitat, and buffers round army installations. We need to guarantee this essential conservation incentive continues previous its present 2026 sundown.
Because the brief session continues, we’ll hold you up to date on our precedence points and methods you possibly can take motion. Till then, thanks for all you do!
