Developing a State-Level Natural and Working Lands Climate Action Plan

Natural and working lands—forests, wetlands, coastal, and agricultural lands—provide many benefits, including supporting key economic sectors, enhancing community resilience to hazards such as fires and floods, and contributing to climate mitigation by storing large amounts of carbon. North Carolina recently completed a Natural and Working Lands Climate Action Plan with recommendations for conserving, restoring, and managing these lands to preserve and enhance their benefits. This guide, aimed at other states interested in developing similar action plans, walks through the planning process, helpful resources, and the tracking of plan implementation—using examples from North Carolina’s experience.