The Conservation Fund has been chosen to handle land-use negotiations for the 79,000-acre Hofmann Forest.
The primary goal of The Conservation Fund is to conserve as much of the forest as possible, while still being able to generate profits that will go back into the College of Natural Resources to help fund research, scholarships and other opportunities that will increase or stabilize the CNR’s budget, according to David Ashcraft, executive director of external relations and development of CNR.
NC State announced in a press release that it wants to ensure conservation of as much as 70,000 acres of the land. However, conservationists worry about the fate of the remaining 9,000 acres.
“When it comes to our public land, it is not an acceptable compromise to only sell off small acreages and conserve the rest,” said Ron Sutherland, a conservation scientist at Wildlands Network. “Would we be happy if they announced they were going to sell off ‘just a small percentage’ of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, for example?”
Despite concerns, President of the Conservation Fund Larry Selzer said The Conservation Fund’s contract with the university is ultimately about conservation.
“[The Hofmann Forest] is a piece of land that the university has owned for many years,” Selzer said. “The Conservation Fund is the only organization in the country that is chartered for both conservation and economic development. As a nonprofit, we are uniquely positioned to help the university balance the need for financial return and conservation.”
According to a press release from The Conservation Fund, it will speak to interested parties regarding the following potential opportunities at Hofmann Forest:
Negotiating a restricted use agreement on up to 70,000 acres that would allow military presence on the land for training purposes
Negotiating a multi-decade timber deed on approximately 56,000 acres with requirements for certified sustainable practices
Negotiating conservation easements for the approximate 18,000-acre Big Open Pocosin
Potential sale of the current 1,600 acre agricultural land with an agreement to continued agricultural use
Potential sale of the two mitigation banks
Developing a long-term strategy for the around-4,000 acres south of State Highway 17 near Jacksonville, known as Block 10, that considers its highest and best use.
Exploring additional conservation prospects
A group of faculty members and staff from NC State traveled to Hofmann Forest on Monday to explore the land and generate ideas in relation to the research they plan on conducting in the area.
“We’re planning on having a brainstorm session on ideas,” Ashcraft said. “Some research may be within the College of Natural Resources, and some may be between other colleges on campus. We are looking at as many opportunities as we have for the forest, water, animals, carbon, oxygen, et cetera.”
Within the next decade, Ashcraft hopes to see as many different groups as possible collaborate to use the land at the Hofmann Forest.
“It offers the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate and showcase sustainable practices,” Ashcraft said. “How do we use that property to enhance military preparedness, income for the college, jobs for the local community and many other things?”
Clint Sieber, a senior studying soil sciences, also agrees that the Hofmann Forest has a lot to offer.
“I think it’s great they’re conserving a lot of the land while still producing profit to go back to the university,” Seiber said. “I look forward to seeing what all will come out of that neck of the woods.”
