Chapter 6 Conservation Goals and Priorities
songbirds, Eastern Fox Squirrels, and the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
• The densest populations of Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, and Eastern Wild Turkey, and the highest density of nesting birds in the state. Most of the NCWRC Black Bear Management Units are on game lands. • A system of floating waterfowl blinds, 19 public hunting blinds for disabled sportsmen, 32 public boating access areas, 33 public fishing areas, six wildlife observation platforms, and four public NCWRC shooting ranges with plans to build and manage more as opportunities occur; and some of the finest examples of multiple conservation collaborations in the country. The NC Forest Service (NCFS) manages the 10,400-acre DuPont State Recreational Forest in Henderson and Transylvania counties. This forest also is found in the NCWRC game lands program. The NCFS operates a system of six Educational State Forests (ESFs) designed to teach the public—especially school children—about forest environments. In some cases, forest restoration projects are used to promote the importance of the state’s unique natural communities. For example, the Clemmons ESF (Johnston County) is restoring the original Longleaf Pine stands, which will eventually cover as much as 400 acres of the forest and benefit many species that rely on this type of habitat. Turnbull Creek (Bladen County) is located amongst natural Carolina bays and natural Longleaf Pine savannah habitat is being restored on the site. North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation (NCDPR), a part of NCDNCR, works to conserve and protect representative examples of the natural beauty, ecological features, and recreational resources of statewide significance; to provide outdoor recreational opportunities in a safe and healthy environment; and to provide environmental education opportunities that promote stewardship of the state’s natural heritage. Numerous state parks are notable for their natural resources:
• Grandfather Mountain State Park in the Mountain ecoregion is home to 70 known rare and endangered species and 16 distinct natural communities.
• Eno River State Park in the Piedmont ecoregion is home to several state and federally protected species. The park is a scenic wilderness corridor encompassing 14 miles of river and featuring multiple cultural history sites. • The Longleaf Pine forests of Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve in the Sandhills ecoregion are home to rare and endangered species including the Red- cockaded Woodpecker and Pine Barrens Tree Frog.
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2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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