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FRIENDS OF THE BLACK RIVER NC
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a river of ancient trees

Photo copyright Mac Stone

Home to Eastern North America's oldest trees

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Southern Conservation Partners is assisting individuals and allied organizations who wish to collaborate to achieve the long-term protection, stewardship, and integrity of North Carolina’s extraordinary Black River and its primary tributary streams. A major tributary to the Cape Fear River, the Black River’s ecological and historical heritage includes swamp forests that are home to​ ancient bald cypress trees (1000 to nearly 3,000 years old).
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Photo copyright Dan Griffin

Praise 

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​The forested wetlands along the Black River preserve the oldest trees in eastern North America, which are among the oldest-known trees on Earth. Hundreds of bald cypress trees over 1,000-years old can still be found in and along this remarkable stream. 
          --David Stahle
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Photo copyright Dan Griffin

A high-quality blackwater stream & ancient floodplain forests

​The Friends of the Black River (NC) is dedicated to interpreting and championing natural and historical resources along the river to foster public understanding of its unique environment and provide memorable experiences for visitors. We believe positive economic impacts accrue for the Wilmington area and southeastern North Carolina when natural and cultural heritage tourism is promoted in the Lower Cape Fear region. Working together, we can secure the future of this natural treasure and benefit generations to come.   
See a Map
​Photo above copyright Mac Stone

Supporting Organizations & Individuals 

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Friends of the Black River NC is in the early phase of establishment as a coalition of organizations, businesses, and individuals who share concern for the long-term protection and stewardship of the Black River's natural habitats, water quality, forests, wildlife, and historic features. We passionately advocate for a collaborative effort involving private and public landowners and stakeholders, and we support continuing efforts by The Nature Conservancy to preserve land and water quality along the river. 

All are welcome to attend a meeting of the Friends of the Black River NC on Tuesday afternoon, February 25, 2025, in the Pender County Agriculture Center in Burgaw, NC (in conference room, beginning at 2 p.m.).  Speakers and presenters will include staff from The Nature Conservancy, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Pender County Planning Department, National Park Service  Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, and Open Space Institute.​  Contact us for more information.

​If you or your organization wish to be identified here as partners in this effort, CONTACT us. 

MISSION:
To ensure long-term protection, security, and care for the nation’s largest expanse of old-growth swamp forest and other natural communities, biota, and historic features of North Carolina’s Black River and its tributary streams.

GOALS:
1. 
Create an association of individuals, organizations, businesses and public partners to champion and advocate for long-term protection and security of the entire Black River corridor, including its principal tributary streams, and maintain traditional, compatible public and private uses of the river’s natural resources. 

2. Expand public recognition of the exceptional natural assets and beauty of North Carolina’s Black River and its major tributary streams, particularly its extensive old-growth swamp and bottomland forests containing the oldest trees (bald cypresses) known in eastern North America, along with its outstanding water quality and other ecological and cultural resources. ​

3. Defend the outstanding water quality of the river and its tributary streams, and be vigilant to safeguard against threats to the river’s water quality, wildlife, and natural habitats. 

4. Recognize and reward private landowners along the river and its tributaries for their good conservation stewardship of the land, water, and natural resources of the Black River and its watershed. 

5. Explore options and opportunities for a compatible blend of public and private conservation actions for the land, water, and biotic resources of the Black River and its watershed – with safeguards for continuation of traditional private land ownership and stewardship. 
​
Steering Committee for
​Friends of the Black River NC

Kullen Bell
​Kemp Burdette
Bridger Hahn
Joshua McLamb
Carl North
Clint North
Roger Shew
Fred Sheffield 
Mike Taylor

​ORGANIZATIONAL FRIENDS
​(click on name of org for link)
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Charles (Chuck) Roe, President
​Milo Pyne, Board Chair​
  • American Rivers , Peter Raabe, Associate Director 
  • Audubon North Carolina,
    Curtis Smalling, Director of Conservation & Interim Exec. Director
  • Cape Fear Audubon, Sarah Branagan, President 
  • Cape Fear River Watch,
    Kemp Burdette, Riverkeeper *
  • Carolina Wetlands Association, Rick Savage, Executive Director
  • Coastal Plain Conservation Group, Andy Wood, Director 
  • Coharie Intertribal Council, Phillip Bell, CCRI coordinator 
  • Friends of Sampson County Waterways, Joshua McLamb, President *
  • 500-Year Forest Foundation,
    Mary Elfner, Executive Director; McChesney Goodall, Board President
    ​
  • Lower Cape Fear Wildlife,
    ​Jennifer Wiggins, Chapter President
     ​
  • North Carolina Wildlife Federation,​ Tim Gestwicki, CEO
  • Old-Growth Forest Network, Joan Waloof, Founder
  • YWCA Lower Cape Fear, Velva Jenkins, CEO​​
BUSINESSES
  • Cape Fear River Adventures, 
    ​Charles Robbins, CEO *
  • Critical Resources Consulting, LLC, Jesse Edmondson, CEO 
  • Frog Hollow Outdoors, Banks Dixon, CEO
  • Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co.,
    Joe Jacob, President 
  • Hurricane Aqua Sports, Inc.(Warsaw) Lydia McGhee, General Manager
  • Mahanaim Adventures, Don Harty, CEO                 
* member of FoBR Steering Committee

Support This Project!

INDIVIDUALS
  • John Alderman - conservation biologist
  • Danny Bell - Coharie/Lumbee; NC Commission of Indian Affairs board; NC Maritime History Council 
  • Kullen Bell* - Coharie Intertribal Council
  • Carol Bush - conservationist  
  • Dr. David Cecelski - historian; Duke University Dept. of History
  • Alton Chewning - editor Carolina Paddler journal of Carolina Canoe Club
  • Beth Darrow - marine scientist
  • Larry Earley - author, conservationist
  • Tom Earnhardt - environmental educator, author, UNC-TV producer of Exploring North Carolina series
  • Jesse & Eva Edmondson - natural resources management consultants
  • Paul Ferguson - author of "Paddling Eastern NC" and "Canoe Kayak South Carolina" guidebooks
  • Manley Fuller - NC Wildlife Federation, vice president conservation policy
  • Dr. Daniel Griffin - geoscientist, University of Minnesota, Dept. of Geography, Environment & Society
  • Bridger Hahn* - landowner
  • Frank Holleman - senior attorney Southern Environmental Law Center
  • Virginia Holman - author, conservationist
  • Richard LeBlond - retired NC Natural Heritage Pgm. botanist; Pender Co. Nat. Areas Inventory principal investigator
  • Beau McCaffray - conservationist 
  • Marilyn Mayer - Carolina Wetlands
  • Julie Moore - botanist; NC Plant Conservation Pgm. advisory board chair; retired USFWS Safe Harbor Program manager
  • T. Edward Nickens - journalist and author
  • Carl North* - landowner
  • Clint North*- land and business owner
  • Michael Parker - author
  • Linda & Sam Pearsall - retired former NC Natural Heritage Program director & retired Environmental Defense Fund and Nature Conservancy-NC science and stewardship programs director
  • Jerry Reynolds - head of outreach NC Museum of Natural Sciences 
  • Chuck Roe & Charlotte Jones-Roe - retired former exec. dir. NC Natural Heritage Pgm. and Conservation Trust of NC; retired NC Botanical Garden dir. of conservation & dir. of development
  • Joel Rose - director Sampson County History Museum 
  • Fred Sheffield*- local landowner
  • Dr. Roger Shew* - UNC-Wilmington, Dept. Environmental Sciences and Dept. Earth & Ocean Science
  • Bland & Ann Simpson - authors, photographers, conservationists 
  • Dr. David W. Stahle - geoscientist Univ. of Arkansas, Dept. Geosciences
  • Mac Stone - nature photographer, exec. dir. Naturaland Trust 
  • Jack Switzer - local landowner
  • Dr. John Taggart - UNC-Wilmington Dept. of Environmental Sciences, former dir. NC Coastal Estuaries & Reserves Program
  • Alicia & Mike Taylor* - Pender County History Museum co-director
  • Camille Warren - Carolina Canoe & Kayak Clubs
  • Dr. Thomas Wentworth - professor emeritus NC State University, Dept. of Plant & Microbial Biology
  • Dr. Bruce Williams - international agriculture and horticulture authority, NC Plant Conservation Program advisor
​
* member of FoBR Steering Committee
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