About us
CROWN was established in 2013 by a group of passionate volunteers who saw a need to raise awareness to the status of the Charlotte Mecklenburg region's wildlife as well as their habitat. Charlotte is the largest city in the Carolinas and continues to grow in size and population, creating major stress on the surrounding natural resources. With supporting leadership from both the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation, CROWN's all-volunteer staff work tirelessly to create balance between economic growth and strong, healthy ecosystems, in support of sustainable and livable communities. We work with our partners to enhance landscapes and restore habitat throughout the region so that they may become healthy, thriving ecosystems, as unique and wonderful as the wildlife they support. Join us, by making your property wildlife friendly.​ We can help you with that!

​Do you have an interest in nature? Do you see development creating poor quality natural habitat for wildlife to thrive? We want to empower folks through our programs and resources to offset the damage caused by common development and home landscape practices. This website and our programs are making a positive difference in our community.

Can Charlotte become a "nature-rich" city?
With your help, we can begin the transformation of Charlotte towards a nature-rich city. A nature rich city includes these principles (from Richard Louv, author of “The Nature Principle”)

1. Every child has a right to a positive connection to the natural world
2. Want to envision a better future? View Charlotte through the lens of the natural world
3. Nature-rich communities are healthier for children, adults and other living things
4. Conservation is no longer enough. Now is the time to create nature-rich futures
5. The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need. This is especially true for today’s young people.
6. Natural history is as important as human history to a region’s sense of identity
7. Different cultures and people of various abilities experience nature differently
8. We need to build a larger network of diverse organizations and partners to open more doors towards supporting the concepts and benefits offered by the natural world
9. The future belongs to the nature-smart. True economic wealth understands and operates with the realization that everything is connected to nature
10.  Nature-deficit disorder is real and is a threat to civilization

    Learn more about CROWN and join us as we improve our community and support all life that exists here.

           “May the relationship between man and nature not be driven by greed, to manipulate and exploit,
​         but may the divine harmony between beings and creation be conserved in the logic of respect and care.”
​                                                           --Pope Francis General audience, Vatican City, April 22, 2015

Mission Statement:  
"CROWN's mission is to educate and engage the citizens of the greater Charlotte region
​ about the benefits of creating wildlife friendly communities".
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