ROCK RIDGE - There's not a North Carolinian around who needs to be told of the beauty of this state. Whether you're a new arrival or a cradle Tar Heel, you know of the magnificent mountain vistas, the rolling hills of the piedmont, the flat expanse and rich soil of the coastal plain, the splendor of the barrier islands and the majestic historic properties located across our state. But I'm worried that future generations won't be able to regard our state in the same way if some negative trends keep up.

By 2030, North Carolina will have more people than Michigan, New Jersey or Ohio, making us the seventh most populous state. As a result of this population growth, our state loses 1 million acres of farms and forests to development every decade. We're losing stream banks and floodplains, tall forests, prime working farmlands, scenic and historic places and opportunities for local and state parks and game lands.

When I was governor, working with the General Assembly, we developed the Million Acres Initiative, with a goal of preserving 1 million acres by 2010. That was a good start, but we're behind schedule and there is much more to be done to meet this goal.

Land for Tomorrow, a diverse partnership of conservation organizations, preservationists, businesses, farmers, health professionals and community groups, wants to reverse the trend of land loss now, before it's too late. I am excited to be part of this group working for change, and I am happy to report that my fellow former governors Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin are also on board.

The coalition has recommended passage of a statewide bond referendum for November that would generate $200 million per year for five years to expand preservation of critical lands and historic places, provide jobs and strengthen communities. These land and water conservation bonds would safeguard drinking water sources, protect fish and wildlife habitat, preserve working farms, restore historic landmarks, repair and expand state and local natural areas, parks and trails, and prevent polluted runoff from contaminating rivers, lakes and streams.

The funds would be distributed to the existing state trust funds -- such as the Clean Water Management, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Heritage trust funds -- that all have a proven track record of success and efficiency.

Land for Tomorrow also knows that maintaining our state's quality of life is essential to attracting new business and keeping jobs. North Carolina has many things to offer, but there are two qualities companies always mention after visiting our state: the friendliness of the people and the beauty of the land. We're not going to lose our Southern charm any time soon, but we are in jeopardy of losing our land.

As governor, I had many industrial prospects tell me how impressed they were when they flew over North Carolina and noticed that much of the state is still covered in trees. Companies are attracted to North Carolina not only because of our talented work-force, but also because our natural surroundings are conducive to outdoor living and family life.

We have an opportunity to allow our state to stand out as a leader and begin executing a plan that helps North Carolina balance its powerful economic growth with a respect for our natural surroundings, while maintaining the quality of life for our current citizens, as well as our posterity.

Every day I step outside on my farm in Wilson County I am keenly aware of how fortunate I am to live in North Carolina. I am willing to work to preserve and protect our state so that my grandchildren will enjoy the benefits older generations have enjoyed for many years. Land and water conservation bonds are key to ensuring future generations the chance to enjoy a North Carolina as beautiful and economically strong as we live in today.

I commend the more than 70 sponsors of the bond referendum bill in the North Carolina House and the more than 20 sponsors in the Senate, and hope that their colleagues will join them in supporting land and water conservation bonds. As North Carolinians, we must come together to recognize the importance and the urgency of our collective conservation concerns, and take action to ensure a bright future for our state's citizens.

(Jim Hunt served as governor for four terms, from 1977 to 1985 and from 1993 to 2001. More information about the proposed bond issue is at www.landfortomorrow.org)

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