Chapter 4 Habitats
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• Ensure floodplain buffers of 300 to 600 feet in as many areas as possible. This would benefit floodplain forest species.
Acadian Flycatcher Cerulean Warbler Mississippi Kite Northern Parula
Prothonotary Warbler Swallow-tailed Kite Swainson’s Warbler Wood Thrush
Timber Rattlesnake Amphibians Forest bats
• Restore natural hydrology where dams have altered hydrology, such as on the Roanoke River.
• Work with partners to institute more natural water release regimes from dams.
4.3.5.6.5 Conservation Programs and Partnerships Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be used to the fullest extent to preserve high-quality resources and protect important natural communities. Protective measures that use existing regulatory frameworks to protect habitats and species should be incorporated where applicable. Land conservation or preservation can serve numerous purposes in the face of anticipated climate change, but above all, it promotes ecosystem resilience. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Pursue land acquisition and easements through cooperation with land trusts with an effort to increase the width of riparian buffers and create larger patches of connected habitat. Priority should be given to brownwater bottomlands, as these are the most species-rich and are more susceptible to clearcutting and other timber harvest than cypress-gum swamps (i.e., wetter sites).
• Wherever possible, maintenance or restoration of floodplain forest connectivity should be pursued; floodplain forest are important distribution and dispersal corridors for many species (Bailey et al. 2004) .
References are located at the end of this document.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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