Chapter 4 Habitats
understories that shade out other shrubs and herbaceous plants, thus lowering the habitat quality and diversity of wildlife that could use the area. Management efforts by multiple agencies to increase prescribed fire in fire adapted communities, including dry coniferous forests, are already positioning these communities for greater resilience. Table 4.4.11-1 summarizes the comparison of climate change with other existing threats.
Table 4.4.11-1 Climate change compared to other threats to dry coniferous forests.
Rank Order
Threat
Comments
1 With the suppression of fire, many examples have disappeared or have become degraded by a lack of pine regeneration and invasion by hardwoods and shrubs. Suppression of fire has caused severe alteration and loss in Pine–oak/Heath. Development can lead to fragmentation and disrupt connectivity between patches for most wildlife except birds. Road crossings can lead to mortalities, especially for reptiles and amphibians.
Fire
Development in or adjacent to this habitat often leads to a significant problems using prescribed fire as a management tool due to the proximity of residential or other development. Construction activities and other extensive removal of plant cover can make steep slopes prone to mud and/or rockslides, causing loss of topsoil and potentially causing property damage and threatening human safety.
Development
2
Logging/ Exploitation
2 Logging is a threat to unprotected examples, particularly on Pine– oak/Heath and White Pine forest. A major factor in loss of pine dominance is Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks, which are often triggered by droughts. There are numerous native and exotic pests that can impact coniferous trees in this habitat (e.g., Southern Pine Beetle, Tip Moth, Pine Webworm,
Schweinitzii Root and Bud Rot disease, and Red Heart of Pine disease). Localized and non-lethal infestations can be beneficial for wildlife by creating snags, a food source, and habitat diversity. However, extensive lethal outbreaks can dramatically shift the composition of the tree community, with implications for conifer- specialists like the Brown-headed Nuthatch. Control of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is crucial for the Carolina Hemlock bluff communities. Without control, most or all these communities may be lost in the near future.
Invasive Species
3
4 Climate change will act somewhat counter to existing threats rather than exacerbating them. However, these benefits are far from certain.
Climate Change
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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