THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 27, 1995 TAG: 9511270065
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
The state Wildlife Resources Commission received two grants totaling nearly half of the $2.9 million allocated this year by the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund program.
The commission will use part of its $1.4 million to acquire a land tract in Caswell County that supports turkeys, big game and other species, the governor's office announced last week. The commission also will use the money to purchase a wetland tract in Columbus County.
Other government agencies receiving grants include the Division of Parks and Recreation with $1.1 million; the Division of Forest Resources, $375,000 and the state Department of Agriculture, $25,000.
The Natural Heritage Trust Fund was created in 1987 to fund land acquisitions to help keep North Carolina's ecologically diverse, according to the governor's office. The land purchases may be added to the parks system, trails, forests and other state sites.
The trustee board earlier this month approved the grants - generated through personalized license plate fees and real estate excise taxes. by CNB