Three Rivers Land Trust (TRLT)  has officially merged with the Sandhills Area Land Trust (SALT), effective July 1.

As a result, TRLT’s previous 10-county footprint now includes five new counties, bringing the Piedmont-based organization into the Sandhills and Coastal Plain. TRLT and SALT board members worked on this merger for several years, and are proud to see the two organizations officially become one.

Founded in 1991, SALT has protected an estimated 15,000 acres in the Sandhills through conservation efforts in Moore, Cumberland, Hoke, Scotland, Richmond and Harnett counties, as well as longleaf pine ecosystem areas in Lee and Robeson counties.

TRLT, formerly the LandTrust for Central North Carolina, was established in 1995. The organization has protected over 26,000 acres through projects in Anson, Cabarrus, Davidson, Davie, Iredell, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan and Stanly counties.

“Three Rivers Land Trust is excited to have a conservation presence in the Sandhills,” said Travis Morehead, executive director of TRLT. “Having been stationed at Fort Bragg, and working as a planner for the town of Angier, the Sandhills are an important place to me, personally. I appreciate all of the new conservation opportunities and partnerships our organization will be afforded working in this unique part of the state.”

Two other TRLT staff members also have a connection to the expanded footprint. Associate Director Michael “Mikey” Nye Fulk is originally from Robeson County, and Crystal Cockman, director of conservation, grew up in Robbins in northern Moore County.

“The Sandhills and Coastal Plain counties provide new and diverse habitats for TRLT staff to work to protect,” said Cockman. “These areas are near and dear to SALT’s supporters, and TRLT looks forward to championing these special areas as conservation priorities.”

TRLT will remain headquartered in Salisbury, but will retain the Southern Pines field office to provide a presence in the eastern part of the region. Seven of SALT’s eight current board members will now join the existing TRLT Board of Directors.

One of TRLT’s strongest programs is the county chapter program, which enables the Land Trust to expand its conservation mission into the region. “Volunteer and member-based support is the driving force behind local conservation,” said Fulk. “Currently, our organization provides volunteer opportunities through local chapters and we are excited to expand these programs to the Sandhills and Coastal regions.”

To learn more about how you can support TRLT or how to volunteer with the organization, contact Michael Fulk at 704-647-0302 or michael@threeriverslandtrust.org.