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RARE PLANTS, ANIMALS AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES .::....
<br /> •-:::::.:::::::::::::::::.•
<br /> "' As of May, 1992, the Albemarle-Pamlico region was home to 14
<br /> federal endangered species,five threatened species and several species
<br /> of special concern.On the state species list,there were 27 endangered
<br /> species, 24 threatened species and 21 ; 4''' �� • �� \\�\ ,
<br /> species of special concern.In addition, ��• :� - 4.\:,k .h,•• ` ,
<br /> the state Natural Heritage Program has . :t �. `.; \1 . \ •,AN\ ',
<br /> identified 65 natural communities in \- \ •" 4 ••\. -''-'�` \-i:;�
<br /> the region,of which 25 are considered ��.\� � ; \' •'.`� ` ,
<br /> ..... imperiled or critically imperiled. Pro- �.�„'. '\\�� t,.�.. : '•. ;,\\<
<br /> tecting these habitats and natural com- ���� .'��� `
<br /> munities is vital to the survival of the \\, ,, 1 \ ` . � t\�
<br /> species and to the maintenance of the • \ \
<br /> ..... ...... regions natural heritage. `. � ir, �\\\� ......
<br /> Habitat destruction and fire suppres- .-\ $' ; >„ R`' #= .-
<br /> \ 1
<br /> sion have resulted in the near loss of
<br /> some forest habitat types.Wildlife habi- ;` �� �� \-.X �,
<br /> tat has been reduced to nearly the mini- • `k._ :: �,.•
<br /> \ : .
<br /> mum necessary for survival of certain �..'� �,•` \a
<br /> species. Historically, habitat changes \`
<br /> have been caused largely by land clear- ;�� t \\,���
<br /> ingforagncultureandbysomeforestry "t.:. ::--
<br /> ` �
<br /> practices. But other uses, including ,.\. \
<br /> road construction and urban develop- ? •- ," \
<br /> menthavealso played ificantrole. \ '�
<br /> P la Y
<br /> Some improvements in Habitat pro-
<br /> I
<br /> tection have been made in recentyears, \\\ \ \ \ •
<br /> and many natural areas are protected \ `
<br /> through government ownership and -
<br /> voluntary private agreements. How- 5"`
<br /> ever,many important and • ` • • \,
<br /> < Y p and rare natural \
<br /> areas remain unprotected.
<br /> P . . , • •,
<br /> WETLANDS ` :,
<br /> Wetland habitats include freshwater .. . ,� 'A- ' ..-�. \
<br /> ...... ...... ......• marshes, bottomland hardwood for- ��\\\\ ' .• �- = -.�..''`�\�\�\ ..- .
<br /> ests,salt marshes,pocosins,pine savan- \\ ` , •\,.. . ,
<br /> nails, non-alluvial wetland forests and �\\\ ` �- -
<br /> wet pine flats.Wetlands have decreased \: \`\ \ \�
<br /> d
<br /> is
<br /> matt
<br /> c<al in the region i
<br /> \ \ �.\ .
<br /> n nthe \ N•;‘,.
<br /> last . �,
<br /> 200 years.
<br /> Since pre-settlement times, North Carolina has lost more than 50
<br /> percent of its original 10 to 11 million wetland acres. Of these con-
<br /> e
<br /> v tied areas
<br /> about
<br /> half continue nrinu
<br /> e to support some of their
<br /> wetland .
<br /> functions.The other half have been effectively lost About one third
<br /> ::: ......
<br /> of this loss occurred between 1950 and 1980. Losses have been greatest
<br /> in freshwater wetlands. Saltwater marshes are relatively well protected.
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