Conservation of Aquatic Critical Habitats in North Carolina

North Carolina's State Endangered Species Act for Animals was established in 1987. Since that time, approximately 200 species have been listed as endangered, threatened, or species of special concern. The act, however, provides few ways to prevent take of these species or to conserve the listed species' habitats. Therefore, state regulatory agencies have been establishing procedures for conserving wetland and aquatic endangered and threatened species. Approximately half of the listed species are aquatic; therefore, significant aquatic habitat conservation is expected during the next decade.