This Land, Your Land

North Carolina's National Forests have adopted proposals announced in February that limit geocaching and use of metal detectors on forest lands as a means to protect special areas and historical artifacts from damage.

Friday's news release announcing the decision says there's a list of areas affected by the new ban on the National Forests in North Carolina Web site - http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/ - but we could only find a geocaching brochure that has no such list.

Geocaches, hidden containers that game participants try to find by using GPS coordinates or other navigational techniques, are prohibited in wildernesses, experimental forests (such as the Bent Creek Experimental Forest near Asheville) or Wild and Scenic River corridors, the release says. "Virtual caches," which refer to existing features such as waterfalls and scenic vistas, are still allowed.

The second rule limits possession or use of metal detectors to approved areas, primarily swimming beaches like those at Lake Powhatan in the Pisgah National Forest, Jackrabbit Mountain in the Nantahala, Flanners Beach in the Croatan, and Kings Mountain Point in the Uwharrie. Forest visitors can still get permission to use metal detectors to find lost personal property in other areas.