Appendix 1-5
Chapter 1 Introduction
July 3, 2025
Dear Wildlife Resources Commission,
We, the undersigned residents of North Carolina, write to thank you for drafting such a comprehensive, science-based 2025 Wildlife Action Plan (Plan). We offer the following specific comments on the draft Plan:
The draft 2025 Plan marks a substantial improvement over the 2015 Plan, with more and newer data, but also reliance on best practices that have become broadly accepted over the last decade.
• Chapter 3 focuses on at-risk fish, wildlife, and plant species. We support the inclusion of insects that are important pollinators (bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths) and food sources for aquatic ecosystems (dragonflies, mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies) on the list of important species to conserve. We also support the special attention given to the hellbender, the Neuse waterdog, and other native amphibians. • Chapter 4 discusses North Carolina’s richly diverse habitats. The Plan is right to recognize the great threats facing many of the state’s wetlands, and also the threat posed by climate change to several distinct upland habitats and the creatures that live in them. • Chapter 6 sets out conservation goals and priorities to protect species and habitats across the state. These focus heavily on data collection and land conservation. We support these. We also encourage you to be very direct about the additional policies and funding needed to protect species and habitats from rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and changes in rainfall patterns that reflect ongoing climate change. Altogether, the draft 2025 Wildlife Action Plan is a massive achievement; thank you for compiling it. Please take bold action to address the threats identified in the Plan and to keep North Carolina’s habitats and species thriving in the decade to come.
Sincerely,
Kathy Wright
Aberdeen Aberdeen Advance Almond
Robert Medina Marilyn Bollinger
Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville Asheville
Debra Baumeister
Lauren Beard
James Schall Gloria Shen
Suzanne Metzger
Ben Reed
Apex Apex Apex Apex Apex Apex Arden Arden
Adrienne Ferriss Susan Casar Miriam Sexton
Debbie Kenyon
Stephen Boletchek James Jackson Rebekah Weber
Howard Yarborough
Theresa Long Alyx Perry Tonya Clark
Niki Loher
Justin Landry
Rose Brinkmann
Marla West
Kim Brower
Asheboro Asheboro Asheville Asheville Asheville
Edith Simpson Celeste Collins Anne Sickinger Walter Wood
Rea Richardson Betty Lawrence
Bailey
Pat Cole
Beaufort Belmont
Pamela Culp
Julie Frey
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