Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
• CITES Appendix II controls trade of species that are at higher risk when trade could be incompatible with their survival.
• Species included in CITES Appendix III are protected in at least one country that is party to the convention, and CITES has been asked for assistance in controlling trade of the species. 3.1.1.1 Wildlife North Carolina has enacted legislation that states all marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources are public trust resources, establishes state jurisdictions and authorities for their use and management, and assigns stewardship of natural resources to certain state agencies. Legislation states that public trust lands and waters are under stewardship authority of the NCWRC (freshwater and inland resources) and the Marine Fisheries Commission (marine and estuarine resources) [NCGS Article 12, § 113-132; §113-333] The General Statutes direct the NCWRC to manage, restore, develop, cultivate, conserve, protect, and regulate the wildlife resources of the state; to determine the requirements for conservation of protected wild animal species; and also grant the NCWRC authority to conduct investigations to determine whether a wild animal should be on a protected animal list (in GS 113; GS 143). While not inclusive of all federal and state legislation, Table 3-15 (Appendix 3) provides a list of important federal and state laws that regulate and protect wildlife resources in North Carolina. 3.1.1.2 Plants The NC Nature Preserves Act was enacted in 1985 (NCAC 1985: a.2 c.143B §49-§135.273) and allows the State to obtain and dedicate land as permanently protected nature preserves. North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Department of Agriculture), Plant Conservation Program (PCP) was authorized by the Plant Protection and Conservation Act (NCAC 1979: a.19B c.106 §202.12ꟷ§.202.22) to manage plant conservation in the State including adopting a state list of protected plant species, adopting and enforcing regulations that protect, conserve, and enhance those listed species, and developing conservation programs for the benefit of listed species. The PCP is responsible for managing more than 14,500 acres of conservation preserve properties across the state (Friends of Plant Conservation 2021) . These preserves provide critical conservation for about 18% of the plant species listed in North Carolina. Additional plant protection is provided by legislation that protects land from criminal trespass (NCAC 2014: Article 22 Chapter 14 §126ꟷ§159.4) and prohibits taking of certain wild plants from private or public land without a permit issued by the owner.
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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