Page 8 - Georgia Forestry - Spring 2017
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AERIAL SPECIALISTS, INC
Providing forestry, aquatic and right-of-way aerial applications for over 30 years.
420 Hallman Road Ward, SC 29166 803-275-2300
President- Billy Rutland 803-480-1724
From tract evaluation to application, we handle all of your forestry needs.
Visit our website at asicopters.com
ENVIRONMENT
CASE STUDY:
North Carolina’s Upper Neuse
Clean Water Initiative
The first forestry school
in the United States was established by Carl Schneck, forester for the Biltmore Estate, on the French Broad River in North Carolina. The state has carried on that legacy of leading the way
for forest and freshwater protection through innovative approaches
like the Upper Neuse Clean Water Initiative (UNCWI).
The 770-square-mile Upper
Neuse River Basin contains nine public drinking water reservoirs that supply rapidly growing communities in six counties. Land values are expected to continue to rise — which increases the potential for forest land to be converted to commercial or residential uses.
Acknowledging the challenges
on the horizon, the cities of Raleigh and Durham established watershed protection fees. Raleigh is averaging 60 cents a month
per household, based on use, to fund acquisition, conservation easements and forest stewardship plans on private forest lands.
This market-based solution helps landowners retain their property and livelihood while securing long- term water quantity and quality for growing communities. Since its inception, the innovative program has worked with land trusts and other partners to protect 89 miles of stream banks on 8,048 acres.
To learn more, visit ctnc.org.
6 | GEORGIA FORESTRY
