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..:.:::::::::::::::. ... ..... .. .. <br /> VITAL HABiTATS <br /> .. <br /> .::::::::,:„.--:.... :.::.„:::::::::: ....„.::.::.,:...„.. P If 4A1\4" ..::::::::.::.,, -...:, <br /> Objective A: <br /> Promote regional planning to protect and restore vital <br /> habitats in the APES region. <br /> ;.:., egional planning would guide the acquisition, protection and <.;,. <br /> restoration ofvital habitats.These plans would include goals for <br /> ensuring that vital habitat protection efforts do not become .... <br /> fragmented but are consolidated and targeted toward regional <br /> needs. <br /> MANAGEMENT ACTIONS <br /> Develop ecosystem protection and restoration plans for <br /> each river basin in the region by 1999.Such plans should • <br /> `` set coordinated priorities for habitats and critical areas in <br /> each basin, and should target areas most vital to the <br /> survival of wildlife,fisheries and natural heritage. <br /> Explanation: Conserving vital habitats involves a great <br /> number of agencies and organizations.Regional plan- <br /> ning will coordinate their efforts with strategies that <br /> target management at the most critical areas.Restora <br /> .. ...,. lion plans for river basins s would provide a means for <br /> assessing the sources and causes ofhabi tat damage and <br /> enable the appropriate agencies and organizations to <br /> coordinate priorities along the entire basin. <br /> 2 Develop and maintain accurate maps and records of <br /> wetlands, fisheries habitats, natural areas and natural <br /> communities,as well as the existence of federal and state• <br /> :,. endangered redspecies and their habitats. <br /> Explanation: Accurate maps of natural areas are es- <br /> sential to developing basin ecosystem plans. They al- <br /> low for more accurate analysis of protection and <br /> enhancement priorities for various habitat types. A <br /> biological inventory of the region was part of the <br /> Albemarle-Pamlico study. Additional detailed inven- <br /> tory and monitoring would be done for the most <br /> significant natural areas.This information should be <br /> kept current and accurate. Up-to-date, readily avail- <br /> able biological maps and data will provide local gov <br /> ernments, planners, land managers and private <br /> citizens with the information they need to protect <br /> habitats. <br /> 21 <br />