The Conservation Fund (TCF) is working with its partners to establish North Carolina's first community forest on a 532-acre parcel in Hoke County. The parcel is located north of the county seat of Raeford, about a mile south of Fort Bragg, and adjacent to forestlands with the second largest population in the U.S. of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

Hoke County

At the same time, 17.7% of Hoke County's residents live in poverty, significantly higher than the state average of 12.3%; and the County has experienced severe economic distress from agricultural downturns and manufacturing job losses. The county is also facing extreme population growth, with the third highest growth rate in the state and the second highest projected growth rate as well.

Community Forestry

Community forestry has been used successfully in developing countries to engage local residents in planning, management and stewardship activities on public forestlands and natural areas. These collaborative efforts have helped improve forest management, reduce environmental stewardship costs, and generate economic benefits for communities. The future Hoke Community Forest, with its integrated approach to environmental protection and economic development, will help alleviate some of the issues the county is facing.

 Hoke Community Forest

TCF is also looking to implement other strategies with its partners on adjacent lands to complement the work of the community forest. In addition to protecting forestland in the area, the community forest and associated projects will result in:

• Reduced Military Base Encroachment: Located only a mile from Fort Bragg, the Hoke Community Forest will ensure this area remains undeveloped.

• Endangered Species Restoration: Restoring the longleaf pine system to the site will expand the red-cockaded woodpecker habitat in the area.

• Sustainable Rural Economic Development: A long-term management plan will include sustainable timber harvesting, pine straw raking, meat goat production, bee propagation and eco-tourism opportunities, providing much needed revenue streams to the County.

• Water Quality Protection: A forested parcel will greatly reduce the amount of polluted stormwater that reaches Rockfish Creek, which runs through the site.  

• Promotion of Alternative Energy Sources: Two abandoned landfill sites are located nearby and TCF will work with Hoke County and the Town of Raeford to explore the possibility of tapping the landfills’ methane as an alternative energy source

• Conservation-Based Affordable Housing: TCF is working with its partners to develop an affordable housing project on adjoining southern parcels. A low-impact, environmentally sensitive design will ensure that larger forested areas are protected and remain contiguous. The project will also provide much needed affordable housing for residents, military personnel and a county facing huge population growth, and will serve as a model for future development.

Partners

As with all of our projects, the success of this project could not have been accomplished without the help of partners:

• Fort Bragg / US Department of Defense
• Hoke County / Parks & Recreation Department / Raeford-Hoke Economic Development Commission
• Town of Raeford
• Blue Springs-Hoke County Community Development Corporation
• NC Rural Economic Development Center
• NC Community Development Initiative
• NC Association of Community Development Corporations
• Sandhills Area Land Trust