Our Work

APNEP works to identify, protect, restore, and monitor the natural resources of the Albemarle-Pamlico region, and to engage people to show how they can contribute to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Our efforts are guided by our Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, also known as a CCMP. This document directs APNEP to accomplish 58 targeted “actions” that cover topics such as outdoor education, water quality, invasive species, oysters, habitat restoration, and water flow. APNEP’s current CCMP was published in 2012 and will be revised in 2022.

Below is an interactive map of APNEP-funded projects from 2012 through 2020. Through this ArcGIS Online-based map, APNEP hopes to showcase the diverse and innovative projects we've funded throughout our watershed, as well as to provide our partners and public with information about those initiatives. 

The Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program provides both funding and staff support for a variety of efforts that support the program's mission.  Though APNEP maintains a small staff, the program is able to leverage its contributions by coordinating with regional partners.  Staff rely on input from partners to inform the priorities of the Partnership. Anyone working or living in the Albemarle-Pamlico region can be an APNEP partner. This section highlights these efforts, which are categorized by protection, restoration, monitoring, engagement, and identification (research) projects in accordance with APNEP's Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.

APNEP has taken a partnership approach to achieve its mission. Protection of the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system is an enormous undertaking, and the resources directly allocated to APNEP are limited. APNEP seeks to overcome this hurdle by leveraging partnerships among governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, and the public to make significant improvements to the sounds. Because of its broad reach, APNEP is well positioned to fill gaps and identify synergies among its partners.