North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership

The mission of the NCSCP is to coordinate the development and implementation of conservation strategies for the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), other native biota, longleaf pine and other ecosystems in the Sandhills of North Carolina.

NCSCP Open House

The North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership is holding an Open House on Sept. 11, 2010, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Weymouth Woods State Nature Preserve located at 1024 Ft. Bragg Road in Southern Pines. Members from the partnership will be conducting nature tours and presenting information on plants and animals found in the Sandhills. There will also be displays from the partnership organization along with information on the importance of fire in the Sandhills ecosystem including a display of equipment used to carry out prescribed fires.

The Partnership is celebrating its 10 year anniversary and wants to show the public how the NCSCP works together to preserve the variety of plants, animals and birds that depend on this unique ecosystem. The NCSCP was created in 2000 to promote a collaborative approach to conservation between various federal, state and non-profit conservation groups. Over the past decade this innovative, cooperative venture has yielded significant contributions to the conservation and management of these unique natural resources including the recovery of two endangered red-cockaded woodpecker populations, the conservation of over 15,000 acres and the creation of the new Carvers Creek State Park in Cumberland County. The majority of these new conservation lands are available to the public for outdoor recreational uses such as hiking, bird watching, hunting and fishing.

The core partners include the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, N.C. Division of Forest Services, NC Division of Parks and Recreation, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Sandhills Area Land Trust, Sandhills Ecological Institute, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Army Fort Bragg, U.S. Army Environmental Command, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

For information on the event contact Patty Matteson, Public Affairs and Outreach Coordinator, USFWS, (919) 856-4520 (ext. 25). For directions or information on Weymouth Woods visit: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/wewo/main.php, or call (910) 692-2167.

NCSCP In the News

September 2, 2010 - Fayetteville Observer Op-ed: 10 years of Saving the Sandhills by Katherine Skinner

On June 7, 2006, the U.S. Army and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosted "From Conflict to Collaboration", an event staged to celebrate the recovery of the red-cockaded woodpecker population on Fort Bragg. The Army and Fish and Wildlife Service's event highlighted the efforts of the Partnership to create conservation strategies that complied with Fort Bragg Army Base procedures. The result of years of negotiating culminated into celebratory event in the Sandhills.

NCSCP Press Releases

June 4, 2006 Army official commends NCSCP for its conservation efforts (Fayetteville Observer)

June 8, 2006 RCW recovery not a cause for celebration everywhere (Charlotte Observer)

June 8, 2006 NCSCP celebrates RCW recovery at Fort Bragg (Fayetteville Observer)

June 9, 2006 Observer editor highlights the success of the RCW recovery and longleaf pine conservation (Fayetteville Observer)

June 11, 2006 Charles Broadwell recounts his visit to RCW celebration (Fayetteville Observer)