6.3 Conservation Opportunities and Incentives
several hundred thousand acres of mature forests in the Mountain ecoregion, including some of the best examples of spruce-fr forests.
6.3.2.3 Municipal Parks and Open Space Te Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan suggests a link between access to open space and the overall mental and physical health of nearby residents (NCDPR 2015) . Many city and county parks in North Carolina have been developed with human recre- ation as the top priority, but opportunities also exist to improve habitat management and wildlife-related recreation and education on these public lands. An urban wildlife program can serve to maximize biodiversity within urban areas, build critical public support for conservation eforts, and assist in guiding development pressures to help ensure the con- servation of species and habitats in presently rural areas. Technical guidance assistance is available from state and federal agency partners to help develop appropriate management options. Te Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department is a prime example of a parks system that has made natural resources management a priority by conserving habitat integrity and educating the public by ofering guided hikes and programs about the envi- ronment. It serves as a model for other parks and recreation programs that wish to better integrate natural resources management into traditional programming methods. Recommendations for conservation and management of both private and public lands that will beneft fsh and wildlife resources and their habitats and education and outreach opportunities that will connect natural resource agencies and organizations to the broader conservation community are provided in the next section. 6.3.2.4 Strategies and Recommendations Te following strategies and recommended actions highlight land stewardship strategies that can be implemented through partnerships with federal, state, and local government land owners and should be incorporated where appropriate in management of public lands. • Improve management for wildlife on existing public lands through technical assistance programs. Many city and county parks in North Carolina have been developed with human recreation as the top priority, but opportunities also exist to improve habitat management and wildlife-related recreation and education on these public lands.
• Promote conservation of open space and coordinate with regional open space and land-use planning initiatives.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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