N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113A-231: Program to accomplish conservation purposes.

The Department of Environmental Quality shall develop a nonregulatory program to accomplish conservation purposes, including the maintenance of ecological systems. As a part of this program, the Department shall exercise its powers to protect real property and interests in real property donated for conservation or conserved by other means. The Department shall call upon the Attorney General for legal assistance in developing and implementing the program. (1997-226, s. 6; 1997-443, s. 11A.119(b); 2002-155, s. 1; 2014-3, s. 14.14(c); 2015-241, s. 14.30(u).)