Audubon NC’s Policy Priorities for Birds in 2026

From mountains to coast, birds are facing intense pressure. The good news is that Audubon and our chapters are focusing on policies that tackle habitat loss and other threats in order to reverse hemispheric bird declines. 

As we enter the 2026 short session at the North Carolina General Assembly, here are important updates on our top policy priorities for birds, in line with Audubon’s Flight Plan milestones. 

Financing Bird Conservation 

The state’s conservation trust funds are one of the best tools we have to ensure we preserve North Carolina’s natural heritage. Think funding for local parks and game lands, habitat restoration projects, or conservation easements. Without these initiatives, we could lose places that are important for birds and people. 

This session, we are advocating for increases to all three trust funds:  

• NC Land and Water Fund
• NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund
• NC Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund 

This year specifically, we’re building support for the Farmland Preservation fund. This is because North Carolina is projected to lose about 1.2 million acres of farmland by 2040, ranking second in the United States for projected farmland loss, according to one study. 

“We want to keep working lands working for farm families and birds,” said Policy Director Zach Wallace. “When family landowners are able to keep their forests and farms prospering, we can keep essential bird habitat intact and our communities healthy for generations to come.” 

This year we're also asking lawmakers to retain the Conservation Tax Credit. In 2024, lawmakers reinstated the Conservation Tax Credit, which provides incentives for private land conservation that protect forests, farms, fish and wildlife habitat, buffers around military installations, and xx. We want to ensure this important conservation incentive continues past its current 2026 sunset. 

Building Support for Wetlands 

In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that wetlands without a surface connection to larger bodies of water are not protected under the Clean Water Act, giving states a greater role in deciding how wetlands, especially those that are isolated or seasonal, are protected. 

Though North Carolina has taken steps to align with this updated federal definition, this is an opportunity for thoughtful, state-led decisions about how to best protect more than a million acres of wetlands currently under threat.  

Isolated wetlands have the same benefits as larger wetlands in that they contribute to flood storage, water quality improvements, recreational opportunities, economic growth, public health, and increased biodiversity.    

Now is the moment for North Carolina to lead, by exploring polices that protect our natural heritage, reflect the full value of wetlands, and ensure they continue to support flood-resilient communities and birds for future generations. 

A Big Win for Birds in Wilmington