Chapter 4 Habitats
4.3.11.6.4 Management Practices Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergistically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats.
Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats
• Employ hydrological restoration methods such as plugging ditches where ditches are affecting the hydrology of the pools.
• Promote the adoption of agricultural and forestry best management practices (BMPs) that reduce run-off, erosion, and pollution. The federal Farm Bill and other cost share programs provide incentives for land stewards to adopt these practices.
• Growing season prescribed fire when the wetlands are dry is preferred. Where growing season burns cannot be administered, winter burns can be constructive. Burning should be accomplished without placing fire lines in transition zones from uplands to wetlands and with the fire allowed to burn through transition zones. If this cannot be done initially, consider returning to burn the wetland once it is dry to prevent overgrowth within the basin.
4.3.11.6.5 Conservation Programs and Partnerships Conservation programs, incentives, and partnerships should be used to the greatest extent possible 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 overall it promotes ecosystem resilience. Priority Conservation Action, Examples of Focal Species or Focal Habitats • Make every effort to maintain continuous gradients between wetland and upland sites; roads, agriculture, or forestry operations between complimentary sites may render them ineffective at supporting amphibian and reptile populations (Bailey et al. 2004) .
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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