But this land was once in private ownership and it was only through partnership and long-term dedication to conservation that this forest came to be.

The story begins back in 1995, when the Dupont Corporation showed interest in selling the land. The state of North Carolina wanted to purchase it but needed assistance in making that happen.

That’s where the Fund came in.

We assisted the state in acquiring the land by purchasing more than 8,000 acres from DuPont through a combination of land donation and bargain sale. We held the land until a year later, when, with funding from the North Carolina Natural Heritage Trust Fund, the state purchased 7,600 acres from us. In 2000, an additional 500 acres, which we continued to hold while the state gathered additional funding, was added to the forest. After the Fund’s assistance in acquiring more than 8,000 acres, the state completed its land acquisition with the purchase of 2,200 acres from a separate developer.

We work hard to make conservation a reality and are pleased to have been part of this public/private partnership that led to the creation of DuPont State Forest. Now, this outdoor space is saved and available so that future generations can enjoy the natural beauty of North Carolina as we do today.

Seen The Hunger Games?

The 2012 blockbuster, The Hunger Games, was filmed in DuPont State Forest. This Huffington Post article talks about how the N.C. State Forest Service was onsite during the filming to make sure that “people didn't hurt the forest and that the forest didn't hurt the people.” Read it here: The Hunger Games Take Over North Carolina.