NHBA Land Conservation Grant Awardees and Project Reports

2025 Grants
NHBA awarded its first land conservation and restoration grants for 2025 to Bluestem Habitat Improvement for Species Diversification ($3000) and the Town of Carrboro, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Invasive Species Removal and Habitat Restoration Project ($2000). Bluestem Community will use their funds towards rehabilitation of 35 acres of native grassland including riparian zones and forest edges on the Bluestem property in Cedar Grove, NC. Read more about the Bluestem Community.

The Town of Carrboro will work with volunteers in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park to remove invasive species from a wetland and the surrounding areas (8.5 acres) and replant the areas with bird-friendly native plant species. The event will also include an educational component on the importance of invasive plant removal, native plant restoration, riparian preservation, food sources for native bird populations, gardening at home for birds, and community science. Read the project report here. 

Eno River Association was awarded an additional $5000 to continue restoration of agricultural land by transforming 20 acres into Piedmont prairie and 9 acres into oak-hickory forest at their Confluence property.

North Carolina Botanical Garden was awarded $2500 to assist with the management of invasive species on their properties followed by the planting and reintroduction of native species. 

Additional funds ($2500) were provided to Bluestem Conservation Cemetery to continue restoration of wet meadow areas and native grassland of 30-45 acres of the 87-acre property by removing invasive species and planting natives.

2024 Grant
In 2024 NHBA awarded our first land conservation and restoration grant of $5,000 to the Eno River Association (ERA). The ERA used these funds towards their goal of creating more diverse habitats at the Confluence Natural Area using prescribed burns. ERA’s goal will be to convert agricultural fields at the Confluence Natural Area into a Piedmont prairie and diversify the structure of the forested areas on the preserve. This will benefit birds and other wildlife. See more information on the Confluence Natural Area. Read the project report here (.pdf file).