Donate

In February 2026, Triangle Land Conservancy hosted special event celebrating the vital conservation work that protects the places and wildlife habitats we all love. More than 250 people gathered for the formal announcement of the public and final phase of TLC’s most ambitious fundraising effort yet – Force for Nature: A Campaign to Protect the Triangle’s Land & Water for All. 

Since launching the campaign in 2023, TLC staff and volunteers have been working behind the scenes toward a goal of $60 million to protect critical natural resources across the Triangle region. Thanks to generous early phase commitments – including both financial gifts and the donated value of conserved land – the campaign is nearing the finish line with just $1.2 million left to raise during the public phase, which runs through June. 

Thanks to the many guests, sponsors and artists who participated, TLC raised more than $170,000 to support local conservation efforts. Read the full recap here.

Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 5:00 PM

Presented by

Great Outdoor Provision Co.

See Event Photos

Why Triangle Land Conservancy

The Triangle’s open spaces, wild places, and working lands are a vital part of what makes this region special. These lands nourish our spirits, support our economy, provide clean air and water, and shelter wildlife.

But these lands are disappearing fast. Rapid growth, rising land prices, and the climate crisis threaten the places we love. Once land is developed, we can’t get it back.

Just as we need land for homes and businesses, we must also protect wild and working lands for the health and wellbeing of Triangle residents today and for future generations. That’s why, in 2023, TLC launched a bold fundraising campaign to accelerate the conservation and care of land, water and community across our growing region. The Force for Nature Gala & Art Auction will kick off the final phase of this critical and ambitious fundraising effort.

Force for Nature Event Sponsors

LAND LEGACY LEADER

HABITAT HERO

2_TRG_F_Primary_Lockup_Navy

POLLINATOR PARTNERS

3_CFA logo blue_CMYK
3_KC_Kennon Craver Transparent Logo
3_Martin_Marietta_logo.svg
3_WEVO-002-Logo

Explore everything Triangle Land Conservancy has to offer

TLC Home
Visit Triangle Land Conservancy

P.O. Box 1848
Durham, NC 27702
919-908-8809
triangleland.org

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin
CloseMenu

Vanishing Wildlife Habitat

Worldwide we are experiencing the greatest acceleration in animal and plant species extinction in human history. North Carolina is one of the most biodiverse states in the country, yet rapid development across the Triangle is destroying natural habitats at an alarming rate.

Increase in Natural Disasters

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency causing flooding, droughts, hurricanes, tornadoes, and massive wildfires. Lower-income communities are disproportionately impacted, largely due to historical racial inequities.

Inequitable Access to Land and Nature

For generations, people of color were denied access to public parks and beaches. By 2050, people of color will make up 45% of our local population yet nearly 75% of US communities of color lack access to safe and maintained outdoor spaces — compared with 23% of White communities. We must inspire and engage more diverse citizens to advocate for equity in land ownership and promote preservation.

Declining Public Health

Experts recently declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health with rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma soaring. Children spend an average of 6.5 hours a day in front of a screen and almost half of adults don’t get enough physical activity that is key to preventing chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and depression.

Disappearing Farms

By 2040, North Carolina is expected to develop 11% of its farmland, nearly 1.2 million acres, the second-highest rate of conversion in the country. Johnston and Wake are the 19th and 32nd most vulnerable counties in the U.S. Since 2014, Wake County has lost 22,964 acres of farm and forest land — that’s almost 20%. Historically, land ownership by Black farmers has dropped more than 85% in the US over the last century.

Exponential Growth and Development

North Carolina is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and the Triangle is predicted to attract 40% of projected growth. In the last decade, one in four new residents moved to Wake County, and Johnston County is seeing the fastest percentage growth in the state. The pace of development is forcing land prices to skyrocket throughout the region.