The CEO of Epic Games and second-wealthiest person in North Carolina, Tim Sweeney, has been contributing to the preservation of ecosystems in the state in an unconventional way: by buying vast sums of land. His stated purpose in doing this is to protect them from human intervention that would destroy the ecosystem. Upon purchasing the land, he then donates it to various reservations, particularly those that are based around the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. “All of the land I’ve bought is on track for eventual permanent conservation,” explained Sweeney, “with around 4,000 acres already transferred to the state parks system and game lands, and 7,000 acres under easement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife System.” Currently, his purchases total over 54,000 acres across 15 counties in North Carolina. His efforts date back to 2008, amidst the Great Recession. As Sweeney upholds a populous platform, his contribution to the preservation movement is likely to inspire an even more widespread effort to protect ecosystems around the world. – Alex Gallagher
