4.3 Wetland Natural Communities
Management Practices. Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergis- tically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats. • Establish examples of well-maintained and burned savannas as demonstration sites for landowners to emulate. Burning should be accomplished without placing frelines in transition zones from uplands to wetlands and with the fre allowed to burn through transition zones. • Habitat restoration should primarily occur through growing season prescribed burn- ing, to develop and maintain the herbaceous layer and open pine stands. Where grow- ing season burns cannot be administered, winter burns can be constructive. Burning should be accomplished without placing frelines in transition zones from uplands to wetlands and with the fre allowed to burn through transition zones. • Snags should be retained during logging operations to increase the numbers available for cavity-using wildlife species. • Maintain sufcient levels of woody debris in stands for reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals.
• Create borrow sites or ponds for breeding use by amphibians. Otherwise, amphibians are scarce in most fatwoods and savannas devoid of pools or open water.
• Watch for arrival of Cogon Grass and other new invaders and control promptly.
Conservation Programs and Partnerships. Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be utilized to the fullest extent to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that utilize existing regula- tory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable. Land conservation or preservation can serve numerous purposes in the face of anticipated climate change, but above all, it promotes ecosystem resilience.Land acquisition and ease- ments should be promoted through cooperation with local conservation organizations and state and federal agencies.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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