Nags Head Woods Preserve and Jockey’s Ridge State Park are among the six North Carolina sites celebrating 50 years of National Natural Landmarks designation.
Both on the Outer Banks, the two sites were designated on May 30, 1974, as were Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, Piedmont Beech Natural Area within Umstead State Park, and Mount Mitchell, Stone Mountain and Pilot Mountain state parks.
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Established in 1962, “the National Natural Landmarks Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of sites that contain outstanding biological and geological resources,” according to the National Park Service, which administers the program.
The U.S. Department of the Interior designated the sites for “their condition, illustrative character, rarity, diversity, and value to science and education,” the park service website states. The first site designations were in 1964 and today there are 604 sites total in the United States.
N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary D. Reid Wilson and Division of Parks and Recreation Director Brian Strong visited Mount Mitchell State Park last week to commemorate the milestone.
“Our State Park system started at Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain in the eastern United States,” Wilson said in a statement. “The National Natural Landmarks program is critical to the preservation and recognition of these incredibly important places. We’re thrilled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the designation of these natural wonders and reiterate North Carolina’s commitment to preserve and protect our environment.”
Secretary Wilson is a member of the National Park System Advisory Board.
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“We are grateful for the foresight of the National Park Service and the NC Division of Parks and Recreation who ensured the perpetual protection of these amazing places,” Director Strong said.
