Alteration and destruction of North Carolina wetlands are proceeding rapidly. Moreover, State dredge and fill regulations apply only to coastal wetlands and state-owned lakes, whereas estimates indicate that these areas account for less than six percent of all wetlands in eastern North Carolina. Despite its losses North Carolina ranks first among all states on the eastern seaboard in the extent of important estuarine area remaining. The State also leads in the acreage of estuarine habitat preserved or proposed for preservation. Under the assumption that some wetland areas are worth preserving, this study identifies and maps wetland areas considered important by some 200 knowledgeable field interviewees from four subject-oriented perspectives: (1) forestry, (2) fisheries, (3) wildlife, and (4) recreation.