We must have 300 orders before the plates will be issued. Your order form and payment will be held by NCWHF until the first 300 orders are received and then all orders will be submitted to the NCDMV.

Greensboro News & Record

Sports Section

Sunday, April 1, 2007

A license to preserve
New program aims to help improve wildlife habitat in N.C.

By Randy R. Mabe
Special to the News & Record

North Carolina is a wonderful state in which to live. With good employment opportunities, robust cities and a well-balanced climate, most of us like calling North Carolina home.

It's becoming a different story however, for wildlife living in a large portion of the Tarheel State. Habitat that once provided a home for many species is shrinking at a faster pace than previously recorded.

While most of N.C. wildlife habitat is found on privately owned property, that land is quickly giving way to concrete and asphalt as widespread urbanization replaces the family farm.

"Farm loss has become a chronic problem in N.C.," said Agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler. "We've lost more than 6,000 farms and 300,000 acres of farmland since 2002."

Indeed, North Carolina lost 1,000 farms in 2005, tying Florida and Tennessee for first place in the nation.

It's easy to sit back and hope things get better for wildlife habitat in our beautiful state, but the reality is wildlife conservation is more than just words.

Eddie Bridges is the volunteer executive director of the N.C. Wildlife Habitat Foundation. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to conservation of wildlife.

Through the years, Bridges has developed ideas to assist in the acquisition, management and protection of wildlife habitat in the state. His latest visionary concept is the development of a custom license plate showing the owner's interest in improving wildlife habitat.

"This is a beautiful license plate that will allow owners to display their love and pride in being a real part of wildlife conservation in N.C.," said Bridges. "Purchasing one of these plates is an easy, yet vitally important opportunity for hunters and nonhunters to contribute money to assist in buying land to be used by future generations for the enjoyment of wildlife."

The total cost of the license plate is $40. Twenty dollars is collected with the application. Ten dollars of that goes to the foundation and $10 to the state Department of Motor Vehicles' special registration plate account, which helps operate the seven state welcome centers. Purchasers will be billed the other $20 by DMV as the standard vehicle registration fee.

Today, most hunters are conservationists. They recognize the need to improve habitat for future generations. Also, hunters from all regions of the state agree that the decline of quail and small game is the No. 1 wildlife management problem in North Carolina.

In recent years, the foundation contributed $43,000 to the Sandhills quail habitat project in Hoffman. Along with help from the N.C. Field Trial Association, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has made substantial quail habitat improvements in that area.

Other foundation projects are the Jordan Lake bass project, wildlife seed distribution, Caswell County waterfowl project and the Wildlife Education Center located in Greensboro.

"Since the beginning of 2000, progress has continued," Bridges said. "We have now reached our $1 million objective, and we are headed for our second million. We have provided funding for over $500,000 worth of projects. Our adopt-an-acre program has experienced impressive success. We have acquired more than 200 acres of prime wildlife habitat, which will be added to the N.C. game lands program."

The habitat foundation will use proceeds from the license plate sales to purchase land that can be used by anyone wanting to enjoy wildlife.

The new license plate has been approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The habitat foundation receives $10 per year for every tag issued. Three hundred orders are required before the plates will be issued. Order forms and payment will be held by the foundation until the first 300 orders are received, and then all orders will be submitted to the DMV.

To receive order forms, call 375-4994 or go online to www.ncwhf.org.

"If you've ever thought you wanted to help with wildlife conservation, there's no easier way than purchasing a beautiful license plate while also showing your pride in N.C. wildlife," Bridges said. "Don't let the dream die."

Randy R. Mabe is an outdoorsman, N.C. master bow hunter and freelance outdoors writer who lives in Reidsville. Contact him at huntrmabe@aol.com