Chapter 8 Review, Coordination, Revision and Next Steps
occurrences) as tracked by the NCNHP. The NCWRC worked with SECAS staff to develop an analysis tool that uses data that is monitored and updated annually, allowing the COAs to be updated on a similar time scale.
8.2.2 Technical Team A technical team of senior NCWRC biologists was convened and tasked with providing review and recommendations for content in the revised SWAP. The Technical Team functioned as a peer-review panel for the Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator by considering whether best practices were applied throughout the revision process. 8.2.3 Taxa Teams The largest effort was made by the Taxa Teams comprising taxonomic and species experts from numerous federal and state agencies and partner organizations. Eight teams were convened in late 2022 and tasked with completing an evaluation of North Carolina fish and wildlife species to determine conservation concern, knowledge gaps, and management needs over the next 10 years. The evaluation was completed in late 2024, and final SGCN recommendations were developed for the SWAP revision. The Taxa Teams used the evaluation method established for the 2015 SWAP and used for the 2020 SWAP Addendum 1. The results of the evaluation were used by the teams to update the SGCN lists for the eight taxonomic groups they evaluated. See Chapter 3 North Carolina Species for additional information about each taxa group evaluated and the final SGCN recommendations. Each Taxa Team held numerous onsite and virtual meetings in 2023 and 2024 that focused on collaborative evaluations and determination of SGCN and other priority species. Potential peer reviewers who are species experts were identified through recommendations from Taxa Team members and through review of university research staff familiar with North Carolina’s species. Peer-reviewers were invited to review Taxa Team evaluation results and submit comments for incorporation into the SGCN selection process. Comments received were reviewed by the appropriate Taxa Team and incorporated as determined by the Team. The final evaluation results have been incorporated into Chapter 3 North Carolina Species and the evaluation data are available in Appendix 3, Tables 3-17 and 3-18. 8.2.4 Technical Review and Revision In 2024, the Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator worked with NCWRC biologists and staff from the NCNHP and the NCDACS Plant Conservation Program to review natural communities described in Chapter 4 Habitats. Revisions to this chapter included addition of new community description for non-tidal freshwater herbaceous marsh and community association updates to incorporate the newly published Classification of the Natural Communities of North Carolina, Fourth
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
8-3
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator