Chapter 4 Habitats
Most of the Spruce-Fir habitat in North Carolina is located on public land, or private lands with permanent conservation easements, with estimates of 90 to 95 % in conservation ownership in the southern Blue Ridge physiographic province including North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia ( Hunter et al. 1999 ; SAMAB 1996a ). However, significant private ownership of Spruce−Fir habitat occurs in the Plott Balsams and Black/Craggy Mountains, and to lesser extents in several other ranges. Red Spruce habitats of lesser size or with somewhat different ecological community associates occur in a few other locations, including Long Hope Valley, Beech Mountain, Unaka Mountain, and Alarka Laurel. Recent restoration efforts have replanted Red Spruce and fir as a conservation measure in the Unicoi Mountains (Graham County) for the Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel. 4.4.3.3 Problems Affecting Habitats Red Spruce-Fraser Fir forests are considered an endangered community in North Carolina and are ranked the second most endangered ecosystem in the United States (White et al. 2012; Noss et al. 1995, Christensen NL et al. 1996 ; Rentch et al. 2007) . There is no potential for latitudinal migration of these systems. No high-elevation areas exist for a considerable distance north of their current range. All patches are isolated by low elevation areas that are already unsuitable in today's climate (NCNHP 2024) . Many of the former fir forests and logged or grazed areas are regenerating into northern hardwood stands without a conifer component (spruce or fir). Climate Change. Climate change is associated with increased intensity and severity of storms. Recent extreme weather events have caused blowdowns and landslides in the spruce zone. Wildfires have carried through the otherwise mesic spruce zone during periods of extreme drought. This ecosystem is among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change of any in the state. Given the high number of endemic and disjunct species, it is also the ecosystem where threats to biodiversity are the greatest. Several of the species face outright extinction and others, if lost, are unlikely to ever recover within the region (NCNHP 2024) . Land Use. Given the high number of endemic and disjunct species that use Spruce−Fir habitat, it is the one community where threats to biodiversity are the greatest. Much of the Spruce−Fir habitat in North Carolina and throughout the southern Appalachians has been significantly altered due to a number of factors including historic logging, fire, exotic insects, historic grazing, and recreational development. Much of the spruce was logged in the early 20th century and in some areas (notably the Great Balsams), slash fires burned not only the coarse woody debris, but also the organic soil, which has subsequently inhibited the redevelopment of spruce and fir forests over large areas ( Schafale and Weakley 1990 ). In former Spruce-Fir forests that were logged and burned, hardwoods now dominate the canopy.
The removal of mature Fraser Fir from the canopy has profound implications for the Spruce-Fir ecosystem and the continued existence of several unique plants and animals ( Nicholas et al. 1999 ).
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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