U.S. Sen Kay Hagan has issued a statement indicating her belief that the proposed plan for protecting nesting bird and turtle habitat on Cape Hatteras National Seashore is too restrictive. I have followed the issue very closely, and I believe that the proposed plan balances commercial and recreational interests while taking serious steps in preserving a fragile ecosystem.
As North Carolina's population continues to grow, we need to protect the very thing that makes our beaches attractive to in-state and out-of-state visitors alike - their relative lack of large-scale commercial development, their natural beauty and tranquility, and the rich opportunities for authentic encounters with native species.
Some groups have lobbied extensively to remove or limit any restrictions on beach driving and habitat protection, but I hope that politicians and policy-makers will recognize that the relatively small minority of North Carolinians who enjoy driving large, destructive vehicles on our public land are endangering the beauty and vitality of one or our most remarkable landscapes.
