Agenda - 11-18-2008 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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90 throughout the region. Orange County was a participant in the development of that regional plan, and has incorporated it into the Lands Legacy program. CHANGE IN PR%M_E__FOREST COVER Prime forests tie hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine forests) were prominent in the pre-European settlement landscape of Orange County_~tt~tThey provide habitat for many indigenous plant and animal species that are restricted to hardwood forest habitats. Those forests also help the people of Orange County by improving air quality and water quality, and by helping to control flooding. The Landscape with Wildlife report (1997) found that the county may have lost as much as 25% of its prime forestland since the 1970s. Over that same period many other prime forests were fragmented to the point where they can no longer accommodate diverse species. In 1988 Orange County had about 71,000 acres of prime forest (28~ of Orange County). An update was completed in 2004 that illustrated the change in area of prime forest between 1988 and 2003, but the information was not sufficiently accurate to compare differences in actual acreage over that time period (State of the Environment, 2004). (See Map 6-7.) [.Map 6-7 goes here, or near here] STATUS OF RARE PLANTS AND ANIMALS The conversion of natural lands to urban or suburban uses results in habitat loss for native plants and animals, and can result in loss of native species. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program maintains a list of rare plant and animal species -and classifies them as endangered,. threatened or species of concern. The status of Orange County's rare plant and animal species is provided in Appendix G. Since 2002 three species (Carolina darter, sharp-shinned hawk, small whorled pogonia) were changed from the "Current" to the "Historical" category, meaning that they have not been observed in Orange County during the past 20 years. The 2004 update of the Inventory of Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat for Orange County, North Carolina confirmed the previous documentation of several rare species within the county's natural areas and added one new species, the Carolina Ladle Crayfish. LAND PROTECTION EFFORTS Early efforts to conserve land in Orange County include Duke University's purchase of large tracts of land (including abandoned farmland) in the 1920s and 30s. The land was managed for forestry research and education, and later for timber production. Duke Forest continued to grow and many sections were recognized for their conservation value. In 2004,