Agreement could preserve more than 3,200 acres of Sledge Forest
CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) — More than 3,200 acres of Sledge Forest could be permanently protected under a new agreement announced Thursday between the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust and Copper Builders.
The Coastal Land Trust has reached a purchase and sale agreement with Copper Builders, the developer behind the proposed Hilton Bluffs subdivision. The agreement is contingent on the subdivision moving forward as currently approved.
Under the agreement, Copper Builders would donate approximately 1,200 acres to the Coastal Land Trust. The trust has also purchased an additional 2,000 acres, preserving what conservation leaders say is the majority of the environmentally sensitive land within the Sledge Forest area.
Harrison Marks, executive director of the Coastal Land Trust, said protecting the property would preserve one of the region’s most valuable natural areas.
“The 3,200 acres that we would be protecting it is really the ecological heart of this property. It’s an 8 and a half mile along the river, riparian corridors, old-growth forest, there’s some longleaf stands on the property, so there’s just a ton of opportunity there. So it actually does feel quite good,” said Marks.
Marks said the trust also wants the preserved land to be accessible to the public. Discussions are underway about future amenities, including hiking trails, parking areas, and river access facilities that would allow residents to experience the property.
The agreement follows months of community debate over plans to develop portions of Sledge Forest. While the future preservation effort still depends on the subdivision proceeding as planned, conservation leaders say the agreement represents a major step toward protecting one of New Hanover County’s most ecologically important landscapes.
