A Spectacular Coast and its Guardians

A Spectacular Coast and its Guardians tells the story of more than 40 years of coastal conservation in North Carolina and the people who made it possible. Written by historian Glenn Blackburn, a former professor who taught for more than 30 years at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, the book draws on more than 150 interviews with Coastal Federation staff, volunteers, fishermen, scientists, and community members. Blackburn chronicles the growth of the North Carolina Coastal Federation from a small grassroots effort in 1982 to an impactful coastwide nonprofit working to protect and restore the coast. The book highlights the challenges facing the coast, from rapid development to climate change, and the citizens and advocates who have worked together to safeguard North Carolina’s remarkable coastal environment.