Appendix 3
lands (Appendix 2). Species assemblages facing existing and impending threats also receive prioritized management attention (Appendix 1&3). Much of our work centers on the discovery of the Cherokee biodiversity, which is still largely unexplored, especially when considering changes in diversity over temporal or spatial scales (e.g. Beta Diversity). External Anthropogenic Threats & Benefits Many people, whether community members, tribal leaders, conservation groups, or federal agencies, make decisions that do not pass through our EBCI natural resource program to conserve and protect wildlife (Fig. 1). These external, or anthropogenic decisions, can either help or harm vulnerable species, or the environments they occupy. People make decisions based on economic or social needs that can either follow or work in opposition of EBCI Natural Resources’ conservation goals. For example, run-off into streams occurs on EBCI lands because of construction activities for creating businesses, houses, or roads. After some assessment, we might determine that these anthropogenic activities are harmful to the environment. We may determine through sampling or experimentation that ecosystems are degraded (e.g. via siltation, increased temperature), and active remediation may include stocking filter-feeding mollusks or planting trees to control erosion and temperature. Despite our efforts as an agency to remediate damage caused by human actions, it would be up to these external anthropogenic decision-makers to curtail much of the damage through changes in future activities (such as reduced construction around stream banks). We are, however, fortunate that people work to benefit Cherokee ecosystems, independent of our management involvement. Private citizens work to protect their natural resources, especially those that are important for harvesting. For example, white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) densities are less than fifteen animals per square mile the southern Appalachians (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 2015), yet deer are a culturally significant species to the Cherokee (Mooney 1900). In a recent deer restoration effort (2013-Present), we determined that deer poaching is low on tribal lands and many citizens were willing to help to manage land and report deer sightings for our research and management. Private citizens are more than happy to plant trees, provide habitat and food sources for all wildlife.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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