The Governor’s Response To What Some Call The Most Devastating Environmental Legislation In Decades

Governor Roy Cooper has issued a major executive order with the goals of conserving, restoring, and protecting wetlands and forests in North Carolina. Cooper’s order comes in response to the catastrophic decision by the U.S. Supreme Court which eliminated Clean Water Act protection for most American wetlands. Then, the N.C. General Assembly’s decision to jettison state protections as well.

Cooper’s executive order contains three major goals, plus explanations and details of implementation:
1. Conserve a million acres of natural lands, especially wetlands.
2. Restore or reforest a million acres of wetlands and forests.
3. Plant one million trees in urban regions of the state.

Cabinet agencies (executive departments and agencies under the Governor’s control) are directed to plan and pursue strategies in pursuit of these goals. 

“North Carolina’s rich natural beauty is not only critical in our fight against flooding and climate change, but important to our economy,” said Governor Cooper. “As our state continues to grow, we must be mindful to conserve and protect our natural resources and this historic Executive Order sets clear goals and puts a plan in place that will help us leave our state better than we found it for generations to come.” 

The Need For Wetland Protections

The order specifically cites the importance of wetlands and forests to the mitigation of climate-changing carbon emissions, as well as flood control, environmental resilience, wildlife, recreation, and the economy. The news release quotes multiple state and national executive agency heads and environmental group leaders.

“North Carolina has set a game-changing target to conserve and restore millions of acres while addressing climate hazards and nature equity in urban areas,” said Sara Ward, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Nature Based Resiliency Coordinator. “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is particularly excited about the emphasis on the state’s internationally significant peatlands, known as pocosins, in today’s action.”

“Protecting and restoring natural areas is vital for the future of North Carolina. They ensure clean air, clean water, and recreational opportunities in a rapidly growing region. And, they are also crucial to our continued economic growth, most of which is centered on our natural resources.” Katherine Skinner, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy North Carolina Chapter.

Wetlands and forests store carbon, preventing it from entering the atmosphere. These features trapped more than a third of the state’s greenhouse gases, according to a 2022 report by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). In cities, urban trees are key to reducing the public health harms of heat islands, especially in historically underserved and marginalized neighborhoods. State data show cities in North Carolina are losing 4,510 acres of urban trees each year. 

Additional Benefits Of Cooper’s Order

The executive order also establishes a native plant policy for state-owned projects, directs state agencies to avoid projects that would adversely affect native ecosystems, study the value of protecting wetlands, and seek federal funding for conservation. 

“The governor’s action today recognizes how vital wetlands are to North Carolina’s people and wildlife, fisheries and flood protection,” said Mary Maclean Asbill, director of the North Carolina offices of the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). “North Carolina’s legislature set the wrong example by failing to protect our wetlands, increasing the risk of flooding to our communities and endangering North Carolinians and fisheries.” 

“We’re glad that Governor Cooper is taking action to blunt the harm caused by the reckless North Carolina General Assembly in taking away wetlands protections,” added SELC Senior Attorney Julie Youngman.