Chapter 3 North Carolina Species
3.1.9 Population Objectives As noted in the 2005 and 2015 SWAPs, specific population objectives are difficult to assess for most fish and wildlife in North Carolina due to data limitations and knowledge gaps that need to be filled. Survey, monitoring, and research efforts have since contributed to improving our knowledge base, but with little more than 10 to 20 years of data accumulated for many species, there is still much we do not know or understand about many of the species found in North Carolina. Due to the mostly strategic (and not operational) nature of this Plan, we have not identified specific population objectives for each species mentioned herein. However, for some species, such as birds and marine fish, data to assess population level objectives developed through the cooperative efforts of specific conservation partnerships may be available. Examples of these partnerships include the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative, Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, and the regional Fisheries Management Councils. Recovery plans for species on the federal ESA protected species list include population objectives related to species recovery thresholds. The NCWRC’s Conservation Plans for listed species also provide population and habitat goals, as well as conservation actions. Table 3-19 (Appendix 3) provides a list of recovery plans, conservation plans, and management plans that include population targets; links to the appropriate websites to download plan information are included in the table. The remaining sections of this chapter provide information about each of the eight taxonomic groups reviewed by the Taxa Teams plus information on marine, pelagic bird, and “insect” species that are conservation priorities for other agencies and partners. A few species of particular concern have been highlighted, and recommendations specific to species or guilds are noted in a subsection with recommendations for each taxonomic group. The EBCI’s Wildlife Action Plan (2022) outlines conservation targets for several priority species in the Plan’s appendices. Each of the conservation targets provides the Tribe’s management goals and actions, biological conditions of the species and its habitats, ecosystem services, conservation strategies, and the history and adaptive processes the Tribe uses for each species. The following species are conservation targets:
• Aquatic Species: stream fish assemblages, mussels, Sicklefin Redhorse, wild trout
• Birds: Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle
• Herps: Hellbender, Eastern Box Turtle, Timber Rattlesnake, reptile and amphibian herpetofauna
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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