Appendix 3
Example of Changes in Social & Cultural Decision-making Our program is subject to any federal listing changes to species under the Endangered Species Act, despite their status on tribal lands. For example, Indiana bats ( Myotis sodalis ) were first added to the Endangered Species list in 1967, despite their potential for great abundance in the southern Appalachians. Therefore, this change in priority and management was due to external decision-making rather than local assessments of biological condition. This listing lead to federal protection on tribal lands, which meant that a moratorium for cutting potential summertime roost trees was in place. Many tribal members must contact our program or the Forestry Department for the Bureau of Indian Affairs prior to cutting any tree down on their property. We survey for trees that fit the defined tree roost specifications for bats and must coordinate a survey to verify that bats are not exiting a tree before tree removal is allowed. It is important to note that this does not occur on neighboring state lands where private citizens often remove old trees, which happen to be ideal for roosting bats. To adaptively manage, we are now preparing an experimental use of acoustic detectors in hope to streamline the process for clearing roost trees. Changes in attitudes toward species can also influence our management. Within the southern Appalachians, the EBCI consider invasive species one of the greatest threats to cultural and economic stability (EBCI 2013). Some non-native species, however, have taken the beneficial place of native organisms as cultural and economic resources. With our definition of a net harm to EBCI resources, some situations will require evaluation. We do not consider a non- native or exotic designation as equivalent to invasive. Our program believes that invasive species are most appropriately defined as a species that causes net harm to Cherokee economic, cultural, or natural resources. There are many examples of non-native species used for horticultural and agricultural purposes becoming naturalized and leaving a net positive benefit to people, ecosystems or communities (Brown and Sax 2004, Colautti and MacIsaac 2004). For example, Japanese honeysuckle ( Lonicera japonica ) is deemed an invasive species by many federal and state agencies because it can crowd out or outcompete native species (Munger 2002, Schierenbeck 2004), but many Cherokee tribal members have adopted this East Asia native as culturally important for making baskets. Honeysuckle baskets are easier on elder hands than traditional rivercane and white-oak, and preferred by some basket makers. Our program has not verified any case that Japanese honeysuckle caused negative impacts outside of already disturbed areas, so the net harm is likely negligible. Although this honeysuckle
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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