Throughout coastal North Carolina, thousands of acres of wetlands and hundreds of miles of riparian natural areas have been altered, degraded or lost, resulting in less habitat area and decreased filtration of polluted runoff before it enters our waters. Oyster populations have also declined, resulting in a loss of reef habitat area for aquatic species and reduced cleansing of the water by these filter feeders.
     The NCCF Habitat Restoration and Education Program seeks to restore and preserve some of our most threatened environments, including wetlands and oysters, and expand our education of the public about the importance of these areas. The NCCF has solid experience and expertise in the design, planning, permitting, and implementation of restoration projects. Over the past seven years, the NCCF has successfully completed 47 restoration projects and restored more than 40,000 estuarine acres. It actively involves more than 1,800 volunteers annually, who donated in excess of 15,000 hours in 2006. Our restoration program includes a diverse array of projects such as oyster reef restoration, long leaf pine restoration, restoring ditched and farmed wetlands, "living shoreline" alternatives to traditional shoreline hardening approaches, and growing and planting marsh grasses with students from our coastal counties.
     NCCF's Habitat Restoration program works to implement a strategy to protect and restore areas critical to coastal life. Projects can either be located in the watershed, involving wetland restoration or land preservation, or located in the water, such as restoration of an oyster reef. Volunteers are crucial for the success of our restoration projects, and we have opportunities for all interests and skill levels!

NCCF's Habitat Restoration & Education Program

More information about NCCF's Habitat Restoration and Education Program can be found through the following project area links:

• Oyster Habitat Restoration: NCCF creates new oyster habitat each year to provide valuable habitat area for oysters and other species, as well as to improve water quality in our coastal environment. The program is guided by the North Carolina Oyster Plan developed by a concerned group of regulators, researchers, aquaculture experts, and restoration groups. The Oyster Plan seeks to identify areas that are particularly at risk and come up with strategic projects aimed at restoring these areas.
• Living Shorelines: Initially developed as an alternative to bulkheads, living shorelines are erosion control measures that also provide stormwater buffers and threatened wetland and riparian habitat.
• Wetland Restoration: The NCCF has a commitment to improving water quality along our coast. One of the means of achieving this goal is through the restoration of wetland systems, from salt-water marsh to freshwater cypress swamps.
• Environmental Education: The NCCF includes educational opportunities in all of our restoration initiatives to encourage individuals to take an active role in the wise management of our coastal waters and resources. The Education Program places a special emphasis on students learning about coastal issues, with programs like the Student Wetland Nursery.
• Coastal Land Preservation: Strategically planned development and preservation of sensitive areas in the coastal zone is vital. The NCCF works to preserve some of our state's most valuable natural areas through land acquisition and preservation projects.
• Stormwater Projects: Stormwater runoff is now the major source of water
  pollution in coastal North Carolina. In addition to working with legislators to develop effective laws protecting our environment, NCCF also has some on-the-ground projects demonstrating a few stormwater solutions.