5.2 Treats, Stressors, and Emerging Concerns
5.2 Threats, Stressors, and Emerging Concerns Treats and environmental changes will afect the ftness, survival, and reproductive suc- cess of wildlife and, ultimately, the survival of populations and ecosystems. Many of the impacts will come from habitat destruction, disruption of food chains, changes in disease and pathogen loads, invasive species, increased pollution, and the direct and indirect efects of climate change (Milligan et al. 2009). Following a best practice guide recommendation (AFWA 2012) , a list of the 11 threats most likely to impact fsh and wildlife are considered in this chapter. Te list is based on the defnitions and hierarchical classifcation scheme published by Salafsky et al. (2008) and adopted by the IUCN Conservation Measures Partnership (IUCN 2012) , with two modifcations. First, the threat category covering geologic events (volcanic, earthquake, and avalanches) was eliminated based on an expectation these events will have little to no impact on wild- life in North Carolina over the 10-year planning horizon represented by this Plan. Second, disease and pathogens are addressed as a separate threat category because of the serious threat they pose to fsh and wildlife and ecosystems instead of considering these topics as a subset of Section 5.10 Invasive and Other Problematic Genes. Te issues discussed in the following subsections represent these threat categories that can be a source of stress to fsh and wildlife species and habitat diversity in North Carolina. Te list of threat categories is provided in Table 5.1. While this chapter focuses on problems likely to afect fsh and wildlife species or their habitats, as outlined in Required Element 3, the discussions in this chapter address provisions outlined in each of the Eight Required Elements.
Chapter section and threat category description
T ABLE 5.1
Threat Category Section/Category Description 1
5.3 Residential & Commercial Development Treats are from human settlements or other nonagricultural land uses with a substantial foot- print. Tese include housing and urban areas; commercial and industrial areas; and tourism and recreation areas. 2 5.4 Agriculture & Aquaculture Treats are from farming and ranching as a result of agricultural expansion and intensifca- tion, including silviculture, mariculture, and aquaculture. Tese include annual and perennial non-timber crops; wood and pulp plantations; and livestock farming and ranching. 3 5.5 Energy Production & Mining Treats are from production of non-biological resources, and exploring for, developing, and producing petroleum and other liquid hydrocarbons. Tese include oil and gas drilling; mining and quarrying; and renewable energy.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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