The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has upgraded its Green Growth Toolbox to better equip communities to deal with wildlife and natural resource conservation in developing areas. In addition to a handbook, a GIS data package and a website, the Commission’s second edition of the toolbox contains additional detailed information about the amount of habitat that wildlife need in developing landscapes; more step-by-step guidance on conserving wildlife habitat through land use and development planning; visual examples of how to use the conservation mapping data and how to design wildlife-friendly developments; and more than 60 articles on the economic and societal benefits of a green-growth approach. “A good example is in Apex, where homes in the Shepherd’s Vineyard development adjacent to the American Tobacco Trail sold for $5,000 more than comparable homes in a nearby neighborhood,” said Land Conservation biologist Kacy Cook. 

The toolbox handbook, first released in 2009, was updated based on feedback from more than 200 planners, developers and local governments who attended Green Growth Toolbox workshops.

The Wildlife Commission provides the Green Growth Toolbox and technical guidance at no cost.

www.ncwildlife.org/conserving/programs/greengrowthtoolbox.aspx or 910.638.4887.