Addendum 2
Chapter 3 Species
Rare Plant List (NCNHP 2021) lists over 5,300 native plant species for the state. The majority of these are vascular plants, with the remainder including non-vascular and composite organisms that are lichens, mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Approximately 18% of the native plant species occurring in NC are tracked by the Natural Heritage Program as state listed Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern, or Significantly Rare, indicating the need for high conservation concern for these rare and at-risk plant species. In most cases, common names are used throughout this document to identify a species. Exceptions include pest species and species for which there is taxonomic uncertainty or when common practice is to use a form of the scientific name as the common name; in those instances, the scientific name may be used to identify the species. Scientific names for all plant SGCN are provided in Appendix PA-2.
3.15.1.1 Federal Regulations
One of the most important protective measures for conservation is the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, designed to protect and recover endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants within the United States and its territories. Currently, there are 27 plant species known to occur in North Carolina that are listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for federal protection under the ESA (USFWS 2021a). Appendix PA-2 provides a list of all SGCN plants and their current NC and federal protection status. All ESA protected plant species found in the state have recovery plans (USFWS 2021b). The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an agreement between international governments to protect wild plants and animals from becoming threatened or endangered from international trade (CITES 1975). The United States is a participating member nation. Protection is afforded through listing of a species in one of three lists, or appendices (CITES 2021). • Appendix I provides the highest protection, limiting any trade of a species on the list only to exceptional circumstances because they are threatened with extinction. • Appendix II controls trade of species that are at higher risk when trade could be incompatible with their survival. • Species included in Appendix III are protected in at least one country that is party to the convention and CITES has been asked for assistance in controlling trade of the species. There are 15 plants identified as SGCN that are included in CITES Appendix II; four are in the Order Nepenthales and 11 are in the Order Orchidales . There are no other plants from North Carolina listed in other CITES appendixes.
2022 Addendum 2
3A2- 2
NC Wildlife Action Plan
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online