2015 Wildlife Action Plan Addendum Proposal
Q5 Additional comments/concerns
Answered: 52
Skipped: 141
DATE 5/20/2022 11:52 AM
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RESPONSES
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on behalf of Southern Conservation Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and recognition of natural heritage assets across the southern U.S. [Chuck Roe was the "founding" director of the NC Natural Heritage Program (for its first 15 years) and an original member of WRC Nongame Advisory Committee.] - Development increases disturbed habitats and creates ideal conditions for rapid spread of invasive species. - native landscapes are being erased - is anyone cataloging these areas before they are developed in a case we want to or need to restore ecosystems or recreate native landscapes later? -Why does DOT/ROW work happen during peak wildlife activity? If one nest requires thousands of caterpillars then why are these entities able to cut down old growth hardwoods in spring? How many broods die? A position needs to be established to coordinate municipal and industrial activities in conjunction with natural systems. - protecting snags and other trees/landscape features that are of special value to wildlife. We really need to identify the species of greatest conservation need. We don't have enough resources to just conserve everything that might be in front of us. We need to use the information that is gathered to preserve truly struggling plants before it's too late--biodiversity is a resource as well as individual specimens themselves! Also, we should move on this now while there are matching RAWA funds. It speaks well of this effort that it is the result of collaboration between N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Conservation Program and N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Natural Heritage Program. Following the advice/science of our trained experts is an efficient way to use limited resources.
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5/19/2022 11:38 PM
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5/19/2022 10:35 PM
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Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
5/19/2022 8:52 PM 5/19/2022 1:07 PM
I would love to see a progress report card of what has transpired since the plan was first drafted. I think the public would appreciate that status report and the assessment of your tech team. It appears that the changes and threats are increasing in an unprecedented manner and I see that few places in my cursory read through where that comes through suffieciently, imo. I have been a WRC supporter at the sportsman level for 3 decades or more. I am writing as a propagator of native plants. I collect seed from my property and that of my neighbors, with their permission. I live in a rural location in the mountains in western NC. Over the last 20 years that I have lived in this location, I have seen a decline in bio-diversity and a decline in the populations of various species of flora and fauna. The bumble bees are one of the most obvious examples. I have seen people remove Spicebush because they think they have no landscape value. Spicebush not only produces the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly, but it is also an indicator of Ginseng habitat. And Ginseng has all been poached out of this neighborhood. The poachers I used to see don't come here anymore! I have seen a neighbor remove, with a dozer, all of the vegetation along 1/2 mile of stream bank, on both sides, going back approx. 100 feet on each side. He didn't like the Rhododendron maximum that covered the slopes and held the earth in place. Every time it rains now, his run-off silts up the fish hatcheries of his down stream neighbor. In the past few years we have had a large influx of people move in from urban areas and they are busy recreating the urban/suburban yards they left behind, even if its 10 acres large, or more: constant mowing, blowing and spraying. The utility companies and the NCDOT are doing the same thing to keep up with the growing needs of the community in all their ROWs, even when a fair number of property owners are willing and capable of maintaining their own, given permission and guidelines. Where are the hedgerows that used to grow up between fields and along the roads? There is no selectivity to what they destroy. We also have a lot of new "farmers", keeping a few animals for fun or to reduce their taxes, or trying to produce their own food. They are given concessions and permission to destroy wildlife habitat, to overgraze their pastures, degrade the stream beds and water quality by allowing livestock in the streams. Many of the mast trees have been cut as preferred hard woods for many a wood stove/furnace. Where are the berry shrubs? What do we expect the bear to eat? The deer do seem to graze on the grass yards, making sure to take care of the
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