Introduction

During the month of April the State Library of North Carolina is celebrating the environment and natural resources. We hope you will explore the resources below to learn about progressive approaches to recycling old computers, educational opportunities in the environmental field, or, find visitor information for one of the many beautiful trails in North Carolina. North Carolinians of all ages are embracing the opportunity to redefine citizen responsibility and increase awareness of the natural resources available in North Carolina and the United States.

What are Natural Resources?

• Natural resources are derived from the earth and include the soil and water and all that dwells in, on, or above it, as well as minerals and other raw materials. Natural resources are classified by:

• Origin: Biotic (living beings) or Abiotic (non-living things, such as land, water, air, and ores);
• Developmental stage: Potential natural resources are assessed based on their ability to be manipulated or extracted for use, and are considered reserves if they have potential capital value, while Actual natural resources are those currently being utilized; and
• Renewability: These are resources that are either able to be replenished, or cannot be replenished once used (non-renewable), such as coal and petroleum.
  

• DID YOU KNOW?
  The Brundtland Commission, formally the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) issued Our Common Future on March 20, 1987, a report credited with shaping policy and coining the term sustainable development. The WCED was developed under the United Nations because of concerns "about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration for economic and social development, and believing that sustainable development, which implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, should become a central guiding principle of the United Nations, Governments and private institutions, organizations and enterprises."

Exploring North Carolina

• DID YOU KNOW? The General Assemby of 2005 adopted the Venus Flytrap as the official state carnivorous plant. Although it is cultivated throughout the world, it is native only to a small 75 mile radius surrounding Wilmington in the Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina.

  

• North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
• The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the "lead stewardship agency for the preservation and protection of North Carolina's outstanding natural resources. The organization administers regulatory programs designed to protect air quality, water quality, and the public's health. DENR also offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public and encourages responsible behavior with respect to the environment through education programs. DENR strives to enhance and ensure quality of life." Be sure to read the North Carolina State of the Environment 2011 report.
• NC Museum of Natural Sciences
• The Museum's scientists maintain zoological collections; conduct primary research in the natural sciences; collaborate on research projects with universities, state and federal agencies and international organizations; and interpret natural history to the public. Much of the research is considered citizen science. Citizen science involves people of all ages and backgrounds in partnerships with scientists to gather valuable data for research. Projects that Prairie Ridge (the museum field station) has participated in include the Great Backyard Bird Count, Neighborhood Box Turtle Watch, NestWatch, and Weather Research.
• NC Coastal Federation
• The NC Coastal Federation exists to provide citizens and groups with the assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina's coastal water quality and natural resources.
• NC Wildlife Commission
• NC Wildlife Commission provides resources for "wise-use, conservation, and management of the state's fish and wildlife resources."
• Endangered and Threatened Species of North Carolina
• Maintained by the Raleigh Ecological Services office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, this page provides links to information about North Carolina's threatened or endangered mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, plants and more.
• Cemeteries Flooded by the Falls Dam
• In the late 1970's the upper Neuse River just upstream of the village of Falls in Wake County, NC was flooded to create Falls Lake. Cemeteries in Wake, Durham, and Granville counties were relocated by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
• Cemeteries That Were Moved because of B. Everett Jordan Lake Area
• Graves moved by the US Army Corps of Engineers before construction on Jordon Lake, on the Haw River in the Upper Cape Fear River Basin, began in 1963. The graves were relocated to Chatham, Durham, and Wake counties.

Natural Resource Management

• US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Established in 1946 by combining the General Land Office and the U.S. Grazing Service, the BLM is responsible for carrying out a variety of programs for the management and conservation of resources on 253 million surface acres, as well as 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. These public lands make up about 13 percent of the total land surface of the United States and more than 40 percent of all land managed by the Federal government. In addition, the BLM administers mineral leasing and oversees mineral operations on Federal mineral estate underlying other state, private, or Federally-administered land, and manages most mineral operations on Indian lands.
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
• Since 1935, under the US Department of Agriculture, the NRCS has provided education, advising, and training to private land owners on best practices for land, water, and soil conservation and management. Check out the Plants Database!
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Formed in 1970, the EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
• US Forest Service
• Established in 1905 the Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. Check here for up to date information on National Forests in North Carolina.
• Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance (DPPEA)
• DPPEA promotes greener business and industry, a better environment and more efficient use of natural resources by providing a wide range of non-regulatory technical assistance on the elimination, reduction reuse and recycling of wastes and the conservation of water and energy.

Natural Resource Industry

• North Carolina Museum of Forestry
• A satellite office of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, located in Whiteville, NC, the North Carolina Museum of Forestry celebrates the cultural history and heritage of our forests and forestry industry.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
• The mission of USGBC is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. Known for introducing the LEED green building rating system in 1998, USGBC is a leader in green initiatives and education.
• US Geological Survey (USGS) USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. Check out their Science in Your Backyard resource for North Carolina and their Earth as Art image collection.

Digital Collections

• Materials from the NC Digital Collections
• The NC Digital Collections contain a variety of materials about the environment and natural resources in North Carolina.
• Oral Histories of the American South, Environmental Transformations in North Carolina
  
• B.W. Wells Pioneer Ecologist
  

Research

Government & Heritage Library resources include books, videos, state reports, and legislative mandates. Additional resources may be found in libraries across the state, some of which are highlighted below.

• Materials on Ecology from the Government and Heritage Library
• Materials on Environmental Education from the Government and Heritage Library
• Materials on Natural History from the Government and Heritage Library
• North Carolina State University Special Collections resource center holdings
• UNC-Wilmington Bolen Waterfowl Collection and History of Science Collection
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