Appendix 6
Reference Document 6-1
Southeast Conservation Blueprint Summary for North Carolina
Holly Shelter Largely comprising Angola Bay, Stone’s Creek, and Holly Shelter Game Lands along with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, the Holly Shelter PARCA supports an extremely high diversity of reptiles and amphibians located along the North Carolina coast. The coastal marsh, peatlands, and barrier islands provide habitat for focal species like the gopher frog, oak toad, and eastern diamondback rattlesnake, as well as nesting habitat for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Although much of this PARCA is composed of protected public land, potential exists for acquiring private lands to join adjacent parcels and create contiguous habitat. Coastal development, habitat destruction, and wildfires threaten these ecosystems. Work should be done to create buffer zones and increase habitat connectivity to ensure protection of this PARCA and its inhabitants. Nantahala The Nantahala PARCA is nestled in the heart of the Southern Appalachians, an area that is a hotspot for some of the world's highest salamander, fish and mussel biodiversity. Many of the endemic species here rely on disappearing habitats such as rock outcrops, grassy balds, and bogs, which are experiencing region-wide threats from fragmentation, water pollution, and wetland draining. Important work is taking place to restore forest and wetlands to their natural conditions while we continue learning about the habitat requirements of the area's rare focal species. Nantahala South Located in the middle of some of the most continuous patches of forest in the Southeast, this PARCA is made up of steep mountains and high ridges. The forests in this region are predominantly hardwood with conifers intermingled on rocky ridges and in cool, moist stream valleys. This region receives abundant rainfall throughout the year and stays cool in the hotter summer months. Mountain coves form the high- gradient, rocky headwaters of the Tennessee and Savannah Rivers. This PARCA is home to high salamander diversity, including multiple species of the genus (group) Desmognathus. Neuse Tar River The Neuse Tar River PARCA follows the flows of the Neuse and Tar Rivers. Flowing from the Piedmont to the Coastal Plain, these two long rivers make up the entire known range of the Neuse River waterdog, a salamander endemic to North Carolina. Other priority species found within this PARCA include lesser siren and rainbow snake. North Carolina Green Swamp The North Carolina Green Swamp PARCA encompasses large tracts of protected land, including the Green Swamp Preserve and Juniper Lake Game Lands. This area is characterized by longleaf pine savannas and pocosins, which support small populations of priority conservation species such as the northern pine snake, mimic glass lizard, southern gopher frog, and eastern chicken turtle. This area is currently managed to restore longleaf pine ecosystems and maintain ecotones through prescribed fire. There is also high conservation potential for the restoration of degraded, undeveloped land within this PARCA. Northern Blue Ridge The Northern Blue Ridge PARCA occurs in the Blue Ridge Mountain ecoregion. It is largely made up of public lands, such as Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, Roan Mountain State Park, and Rocky Fork State Park. These all aid in the conservation of several focal species like the eastern hellbender and bog
Created 11/20/2024 using the Southeast Conservation Blueprint Explorer
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