Topics Related to Conservation

Each year, Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are spotted along the North Carolina coast from spring through fall, inhabiting the ocean, estuaries and rivers.

The North Carolina Aquarium Marine Mammal Stranding Team and other stranding partners across the state respond to multiple reports of manatee sightings per year, and less frequent, manatee strandings. The team is part of the North Carolina Aquariums, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced today that the North Carolina Land and Water Fund Board of Trustees has awarded more than $28 million in grants for projects that will protect North Carolina’s land and water from the mountains to the coast.   

The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades of conservation science, partnerships and efforts to protect the state’s most significant natural areas. The Natural Heritage Program is located within the Division of Land and Water Stewardship in the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

North Carolina State Parks and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, two divisions of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will be hosting this year’s N.C. Bat Working Group "Bat Blitz" to conduct a species inventory in five southeastern North Carolina counties Aug. 24-28. More than 80 trained participants from federal and state agencies and other organizations will be engaging in this effort, centered at Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County.

North Carolina State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will be co-hosting a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the grand opening of Lumber River State Park's Wire Pasture access. The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, Robeson County, and the Museum of the Southeast American Indian at University of North Carolina at Pembroke are co-hosting.

North Carolina Aquariums are participating in a nationwide collaboration among public aquariums and research institutions in the development of new methods to breed more than 20 marine fish species in human care. The initiative reduces reliance on wild-caught animals while launching new public resources to help advance sustainable aquaculture.

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores turns 50 this year. To celebrate, the Aquarium will offer two unique events on July 11 as part of a year-long run of events celebrating the three North Carolina Aquariums. NCAPKS is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

A Birthday Splash daytime event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 11 at the Aquarium and is free with admission or membership. Rock the Reef, an evening event for ages 21 and up, will follow from 7-10 p.m. and will be a ticketed event.

A rare, recently discovered eyewitness pen-and-ink sketch of the Continental Army’s North Carolina Brigade is coming to North Carolina for the first time.

The sketch depicting Continental Army soldiers and camp followers marching through Philadelphia on Aug. 25, 1777, is on loan to the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources from the Museum of the American Revolution and will be a centerpiece of DNCR’s America 250 NC commemoration.