Categories
Conservation Partner Organizations

Chatham Conservation Partnership Webinar 1/18/24

The January 2024 Chatham Conservation Partnership (CCP) meeting will focus on an update to the Natural Areas Inventory of Chatham County. The webinar will be on Thursday, January 18 from 9:00-11:30 a.m.

The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) is conducting a county-wide inventory of important natural areas in Chatham County! Natural Areas designated by the NCNHP include examples of high quality natural communities, rare species occurrences, and other special habitats. This inventory is an update to the original Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitats in Chatham County, NC, published in 1992. Join us to learn more about the inventory, how the information is used, and how you can help! 

The information gathered during NCNHP inventories helps project planners and landowners make decisions that have the most benefit for society and the economy, while having the least ecological damage. In partnership with the Chatham County Planning Department and Triangle Land Conservancy, NCNHP staff will begin land surveys in Spring 2024 and expect to release a report on the findings in Summer 2025. 

Landowners in Chatham County will have the opportunity to include their land in the inventory and interested landowners are encouraged to attend the CCP info session to learn more. Through feedback during the CCP presentation and an online form, project staff are seeking input on potential properties to include in the inventory and how best to prioritize those locations to align with the community’s conservation goals. 

AGENDA: 

Welcome & Introductions 

History & Use of NC Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) Data in Chatham County 
Allison Schwarz Weakley, Biologist & Steering Committee Member, Chatham Conservation Partnership

Overview of the NCNHP and 2024-2025 Chatham County Natural Area Inventory Project
Representative from the NC Natural Heritage Program

Public Input on the Chatham County Inventory 
Brandon Dawson, Conservation & Resiliency Coordinator, Chatham County Planning Department

Updates & Announcements from the CCP Community 

Register on-line for this virtual meeting. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. on January 17. Registrants will receive an email prior to the event with the Zoom link. 

CCP Steering Committee: Brooke Massa, Brandy Oldham, Debbie Roos, Margaret Sands, Allison Schwarz Weakley. 

For more information about the Chatham Conservation Partnership, visit the CCP website or email info@chathamconservation.org.

Categories
Events

Durham – Community Conversations

Would you like to be more engaged in your local community? Are you willing to help us learn more about the things that are important to you, your neighbors, and other Durham residents? Please register now to join us for Community Conversations. Registration is requested to help us plan. The 2024 Community Conversations will focus on budget priorities for the upcoming 2024-2025 fiscal year. This is an opportunity to help City officials better understand YOUR priorities for City spending. Conversations will be guided by the City of Durham’s Strategic Plan. Please share this with your networks and encourage them to attend. 

Dates and locations for in-person sessions: 

Each in-person session will provide: 

  • A $50 gift card for attendees 16 and over. Participants will be asked to sign for their gift card. 
  • Food and beverages for all participants. 
  • Childcare for children of attendees. 
  • Spanish Interpretation services provided by Tilde. 
  • Register for any of the in–person options today!

There will be a virtual option on January 30 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Zoom. Active participants will be eligible for a $50 gift card. Register for the virtual session today.  For more information visit our website https://www.durhamnc.gov/5175/Community-Conversations.

Categories
Partner Organizations

What does a Naturalist do?

Emily Sutton, Haw Riverkeeper for the Haw River Assembly, is part of opposition to the Buc-ee’s mega gas station proposed for Mebane. Education, advocacy, and outreach are important functions for all of our Partner Organizations. Read more: https://hawriver.org/from-www-newsobserver-com-is-buc-ees-too-big-for-this-nc-town-why-some-oppose-the-mega-gas-station-again/