The N.C. Wildlife Action Plan is a comprehensive management tool developed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and more than 50 partners to help conserve and enhance the state’s full array of fish and wildlife species and their habitats. The Commission worked with expert biologists statewide to identify 371 priority wildlife species. These are the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, mollusks and crustaceans that are targeted for conservation action.
The Wildlife Action Plan describes 17 river basins and 23 types of habitats that are found across the state. The plan matches each priority species to the habitat type or river basin where it is found, identifies the most important threats facing each habitat, and details the critical actions required to protect and conserve these habitats. This is the basic framework underlying the Wildlife Action Plan. Priority wildlife can now be specifically targeted by carefully considering conservation or management options within essential habitats. The goal is to strategically target imperiled animals and their required habitats early, preventing them from becoming extinct.
The Wildlife Action Plans emerged from a mandate by the U.S. Congress that each state develop a comprehensive conservation strategy to be eligible for federal funding under the State Wildlife Grants program. North Carolina was the first state to submit its Action Plan in 2005. Each year, our state has received around $1.5 million to support implementation of the conservation actions laid out in the plan. In large part these funds have been used to support the Commission’s Wildlife Diversity Program, which implements the Wildlife Action Plan throughout North Carolina.
Teaming With Wildlife is a coalition of more than 6,100 organizations supporting increased public funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. The organization’s Web site provides information about the development of the Wildlife Action Plans as well as more information about other states’ Wildlife Action Plans.