Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Safe Harbor that began Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Safe Harbor that began
in North Carolina Sandhills
On May 5 and 6 at Pinehurst Resort, Village of Pinehurst,
N.C., come meet the inventors of the Safe Harbor Program
and landowners from North Carolina and across the country
who have enrolled in this innovative program that helps
conserve imperiled species and frees landowners from fear
of the Endangered Species Act. A decade ago the Safe
Harbor idea was untried and untested. Today we know the
concept is working across the U.S.
Attendees: Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior, Fish and Wildlife and Parks
Fred Krupp, President, Environmental
Defense
Matt Hogan, Acting Director, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service
Brad Kocher, Vice-President, Pinehurst
Resort
EVENT OUTLINE:
Thursday, May 5 , 5:30. – Reception & Dinner, the
Carolina Dining Room at Pinehurst
Keynote Speaker Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior. The creators of the safe harbor concept,
Sandhills landowners and landowners from across the
nation who have safe harbor agreements will be
recognized. (Media interviews available.)
Friday, May 6, 9:00-11 a.m. St. Andrews Room, Pinehurst
Resort Clubhouse
Townhall discussion on challenges and opportunities for
private land conservation in U.S. Discussion will feature
scientific experts and landowners from across the
country. (Media interviews available.)
Friday, May 6, 11:30 a.m. – Donald Ross Grill Veranda &
Sunroom, Pinehurst Resort Clubhouse
Press conference and award presentation to Pinehurst
Resort – Marking 10 years since U.S. conservation history
was made when Pinehurst Resort become first landowner in
the U.S. to enter into a Safe Harbor Agreement.
Immediately following tour golf course, other locations
to see active nesting areas of endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker (RCW). Photo ops:RCWs feeding young.
(Visuals of biologists banding young RCWs available by
appointment earlier in the week.
Call Patty Matteson, (919) 856-4520 (ext. 25) to
arrange.)
BACKGROUND:
▪Before the safe harbor program, landowners in the
N.C. Sandhills were cutting mature long-leaf pine trees
that could attract the endangered RCW. They were trying
to avoid harsh penalties under the rules of the
Endangered Species Act.
▪In the early 1990s biologists from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Environmental Defense, Fort Bragg
and N.C. State University joined conservationists to come
up with an idea to allow private landowners some
flexibility on the management of their lands. The program
termed Safe Harbor was conceived. Pinehurst Golf Course
was the first private landowner to sign up for the
program. There are now 91 such agreements in the
Sandhills.
▪In 1999, Safe Harbor became a national program.
Today more than 320 private landowners are enrolled to
conserve and protect 35 endangered and threatened
species. Almost 3.6 million acres of private land have
been enrolled in the Safe Harbor program.
in North Carolina Sandhills
On May 5 and 6 at Pinehurst Resort, Village of Pinehurst,
N.C., come meet the inventors of the Safe Harbor Program
and landowners from North Carolina and across the country
who have enrolled in this innovative program that helps
conserve imperiled species and frees landowners from fear
of the Endangered Species Act. A decade ago the Safe
Harbor idea was untried and untested. Today we know the
concept is working across the U.S.
Attendees: Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior, Fish and Wildlife and Parks
Fred Krupp, President, Environmental
Defense
Matt Hogan, Acting Director, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service
Brad Kocher, Vice-President, Pinehurst
Resort
EVENT OUTLINE:
Thursday, May 5 , 5:30. – Reception & Dinner, the
Carolina Dining Room at Pinehurst
Keynote Speaker Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior. The creators of the safe harbor concept,
Sandhills landowners and landowners from across the
nation who have safe harbor agreements will be
recognized. (Media interviews available.)
Friday, May 6, 9:00-11 a.m. St. Andrews Room, Pinehurst
Resort Clubhouse
Townhall discussion on challenges and opportunities for
private land conservation in U.S. Discussion will feature
scientific experts and landowners from across the
country. (Media interviews available.)
Friday, May 6, 11:30 a.m. – Donald Ross Grill Veranda &
Sunroom, Pinehurst Resort Clubhouse
Press conference and award presentation to Pinehurst
Resort – Marking 10 years since U.S. conservation history
was made when Pinehurst Resort become first landowner in
the U.S. to enter into a Safe Harbor Agreement.
Immediately following tour golf course, other locations
to see active nesting areas of endangered red-cockaded
woodpecker (RCW). Photo ops:RCWs feeding young.
(Visuals of biologists banding young RCWs available by
appointment earlier in the week.
Call Patty Matteson, (919) 856-4520 (ext. 25) to
arrange.)
BACKGROUND:
▪Before the safe harbor program, landowners in the
N.C. Sandhills were cutting mature long-leaf pine trees
that could attract the endangered RCW. They were trying
to avoid harsh penalties under the rules of the
Endangered Species Act.
▪In the early 1990s biologists from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Environmental Defense, Fort Bragg
and N.C. State University joined conservationists to come
up with an idea to allow private landowners some
flexibility on the management of their lands. The program
termed Safe Harbor was conceived. Pinehurst Golf Course
was the first private landowner to sign up for the
program. There are now 91 such agreements in the
Sandhills.
▪In 1999, Safe Harbor became a national program.
Today more than 320 private landowners are enrolled to
conserve and protect 35 endangered and threatened
species. Almost 3.6 million acres of private land have
been enrolled in the Safe Harbor program.
