Chapter 4 Habitats
4.4.11.2 Location of Habitat These communities occur through the lower to middle elevations, the foothills, and are particularly abundant in the escarpment in the Mountain ecoregion. Pilot Mountain, Hanging Rock, and Crowders Mountain state parks all have examples of the Pine-oak/Heath community. Owing to the relatively low elevations occupied by dry coniferous forests in the region, significant amounts of this habitat occur in western North Carolina on state-owned lands (Thurmond Chatham, South Mountains, and Green River game lands; South Mountains State Park; Dupont State Forest). 4.4.11.3 Problems Affecting Habitats Most dry coniferous woodlands depend on a combination of fire behavior and dry soils, both driven by topography. However, an increase in extreme fires may be detrimental. Increased drought may increase Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks, a major threat to the pine canopy. Fire suppression has caused these habitats to shrink in recent decades. Increased drought may favor pines over hardwoods and allow them to regain some of their lost area even without fire. Increased drought and fire may allow expansion. These communities occur in the driest mountain and foothill sites, and increasingly dry climate may allow them to expand into a broader range of topography and to higher elevations. The structural effects caused by fire suppression and Southern Pine Beetles greatly exceed any effect likely from climate change. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has already impacted some stands of Carolina Hemlock, though not to the devastating effect as seen in Canada Hemlock stands. Restoration of the structure, composition, and, most importantly, disturbance regimes of these communities will increase their resilience to environmental stressors. Without fire to promote pine regeneration, increased pine beetle mortality could hasten the shift from pines to hardwoods. Warmer temperatures should allow spreading to higher elevation, but the acreage gain is likely to be limited. It may not occur if fires are suppressed. Increased wind damage may increase loss of mature pines and contribute to ongoing encroachment of hardwoods. Because the characteristic plants are drought tolerant as well as fire tolerant, an increase in drought may help them retain or regain dominance. In addition, if drought contributes to an increase in wildfire, this may benefit these communities. 4.4.11.4 Climate Change Compared to Other Threats The most significant threats vary among the different community types. Piedmont and mountain dry coniferous forests will likely be resilient to the effects of climate change and may actually benefit from increased fire frequency and drought. Lack of fire is the greatest threat to the majority of remaining Pine–oak/Heath. Not only will these forests not be able to reproduce themselves without fire, but those stands at higher elevations that are not regularly burned often develop dense Mountain Laurel/rhododendron
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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