lib. Prose Description of Site Significance : 



Van Swamp contains some of the finest remaining old- 

 growth stands of swamp blackgum known in eastern North 

 Carolina. Few examples of old-growth stands associated 

 with a peat-dominated, palustrine wetland system are 

 known in the state. The swamp also contains some of 

 the largest specimens of sweetbay and loblolly bay seen 

 by the authors anywhere in the state. Trees of "state 

 champion" stature are present in the natural area. 



Van Swamp also contains a representative example of 

 a pond pine pocosin vegetation type associated with a 

 deposit of deep peat. The natural area illustrates the 

 relationship of vegetation and peat soils with contiguous 

 examples of both swamp forest and pond pine pocosin vege- 

 tation types, both in a relatively undisturbed condition. 



The 2450-acre natural area is the last remnant of 

 natural vegetation in Van Swamp, a wetland system which 

 once encompassed over 13,000 acres before drainage and 

 clearing operations reduced it to its present size. 



As a forested wetland ecosystem, the natural area 

 functions as an important refuge for many wildlife species, 

 including white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, and other 

 furbearers. The site supports one of the largest deer 

 herds in the county and also contains a small, remnant 

 black bear population, a species which is much reduced 

 in numbers throughout the coastal plain due to habitat 

 destruction. Avian diversity is considered to be excel- 

 lent for- a coastal plain forest wetland. Forty-three 

 species of breeding birds have thus far been recorded, 

 including ten species of wood warblers. Two of those, 

 the Black-throated green and worm-eating warblers, are 

 uncommon and local breeders in the coastal plain. 



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