2.3 Natural Resources Changes
before they can be proposed for listing. Te current list of NMFS candidate species is avail- able online: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/esa/candidate.htm. As of late 2014, there are 27 federally listed endangered and threatened plant species in North Carolina that are protected by USFWS under ESA; however, this WAP does not address listed plant species. Te NC Natural Heritage Program (NCNHP) tracks the occur- rence and status of listed plant species through its own surveys and monitoring programs, and the occurrence and status of listed wildlife species through data shared by agencies and partners that conduct survey and monitoring programs. Both federally and state-listed plant species can be found on federal- or state-owned lands in many of the natural com- munities described in Chapter 4. Te Plant Conservation Program, a unit of the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS), has regulatory responsibility for the 299 state-listed endan- gered and threatened plant species and the 118 plant species of special concern listed in the state for protection. Tis information is published in the NC General Statutes, Article 19B, Chapter 106, §202.12-22. Implementation of ESA was enhanced in 2011 when a complementary agreement was reached in US District Court with the Center for Biological Diversity that reinforces the work plan developed by USFWS. Te original multi-year listing work plan gives the agency six years to systematically review and address the needs of more than 250 species listed on the 2010 Candidate Notice of Review to determine if they should be added to the Federal Lists of Endangered and Treatened Wildlife and Plants. Te complementary agreement includes additional scheduling commitments for a small subset of the actions in the work plan that is consistent with USFWS objectives and biological priorities. Tese historic agreements allow USFWS to focus on providing the benefts of ESA more efectively to those imperiled species most in need of protection, while prioritizing its workload based on the needs of the candidate species and providing state wildlife agencies, stakeholders, and other partners more clarity and certainty about when listing determina- tions will be made. Response to both the needs of at-risk resources and the concerns of cit- izens will be consistent with land management objectives and need. Te new tools provide regulatory assurance, technical assistance, and programs that provide landowners more recovery options. 2.3.3 Endangered Ecosystems Forest ecosystems that support numerous species and essential ecological processes have high ecological value that might be compromised when the forest is impacted by stress- ors. Te concept of ‘endangered’ forests is based on concerns that continuing losses and
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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