Roanoke River Partners: Ecotourism and Regional Heritage

Ecotourism promotes environmental stewardship while providing economic and social benefits to local communities. Such place-based ventures build on local natural, cultural and community assets; create jobs and small businesses that are tied to “place” and cannot be outsourced; and provide development opportunities where traditional approaches fail.

Roanoke River Partners’ paddle trail boasts 14 camping platforms and provides paddlers an opportunity to see firsthand this unique natural habitat.

- Lucia Peel, Roanoke River Partners Board of Directors Chair and Proprietor, Houghton Hall Bed and Breakfast

Summary

Stretching across the Coastal Plain to the Atlantic Ocean, the Roanoke River runs through the largest intact bottomland hardwood swamp forest east of the Mississippi. Five of North Carolina’s poorest counties can be found in the region along with an abundance of wildlife and recreational opportunities.

Roanoke River Partners is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, enhancing and promoting the natural, cultural and historic identity and integrity of the Roanoke River Region. The organization encourages resource conservation and sustainable economic development, achieving its goals through ecotourism initiatives and other environmentally sustainable activities.

Roanoke River Partners created and manages 14 camping platforms along its Roanoke Paddle Trail. The trail and platforms provide paddlers and nature enthusiasts the opportunity to experience firsthand the river’s beauty and varied wildlife.  Leasing land for a camping platform generates income for area landowners.  One property owner reports that land leased for a campsite yeilds more income per acre than leasing land for agriculture.

Roanoke River Partners received the Trail Advocacy Award from American Trails. According to a GoldenLEAF funded economic impact study, Roanoke River Partners’ paddle trail generates more than $400,000 annually for local economies.  They have generated more than 50 place-based jobs.

Roanoke River Partners has developed effective partnerships with local municipalities, historic preservation groups, conservation organizations, and the NAACP among others.

Resourceful Communities’ Role

The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities Program has worked in partnership to protect the area’s distinctive habitat through land and water protection as well as “creating new economies” that protect the environment while providing economic and social benefits.

Working to support goals identified by Roanoke River Partners, Resourceful Communities has provided funding for their projects as well as direct technical assistance for fundraising, strategic planning and training at our regional leadership workshops. Roanoke River Partners has served a peer educator at GrassRoots Convenings and Peer Learning Visits.

With support from Resourceful Communities’ Creating New Economies Fund program, Roanoke River Partners purchased the Hamilton Rosenwald School. Built in the early twentieth century, Rosenwald Schools provided public education for African Americans in the South. Roanoke River Partners plans to adapt the building for use as a cultural, community and ecotourism center. The first acquisition of a Rosenwald School by a conservation-oriented group, this project will enhance job creation and tourism in the region.

Through Resourceful Communities, Roanoke River Partners has also successfully partnered with other community groups in the region, including Concerned Citizens of Tillery and Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center. Roanoke River Partners is a long-time participant in Resourceful Communities’ Grassroots Network and has served as a peer presenter on a variety of topics.

Visit www.roanokeriverpartners.org to learn more.