lib. Prose Description of Site Significance: 



The Cypress Park natural area contains probably the 

 last remaining, near-virgin stand of baldcypress in Hyde 

 County. Although other mature, old-growth stands exist 

 in the Alligator River swamp forest, none are known which 

 approach the trunk diameters and overall size of the trees 

 in Cypress Park. The stand (structurally and compositionally) 

 probably most closely approximates the original presettle- 

 ment palustrine swamp forest wetlands along the Alligator 

 River corridor. 



The site, when combined with the much larger Alligator 

 River Swamp Forest natural area to the north, contains sig- 

 nificant habitat for a number of game and non-game wildlife 

 species, notably black bear. 



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