22. Threats: 



Peat mining is a potential threat; Otte and Ingram (1980) 

 have found energy grade peat (less than 25% ash at 0% moisture) 

 under much of the natural area. Agricultural development is 

 limited as a threat to some degree because the woody peats 

 are currently uneconomical to farm. 



23. Management and Preservation Recommendation: 



The area should be recognized as a crucial component of the 

 Alligator River wetlands corridor which extends east of the natural 

 area and includes Roper Island and the Alligator River Swamp Forest. 

 Its importance as an excellent representative pocosin ecosystem 

 will increase as additional drainage and clearing operations con- 

 tinue to fragment the remaining pocosin areas along the Alligator 

 River corridor. 



Contact with the owners should be made by the N.C. Natural 

 Heritage Program to determine their short and long-term plans 

 for the tract and to inform them of the natural area's biological 

 significance as a relatively large, intact pocosin system. 



If, in the future, the site is protected, management 

 will be required to maintain the pocosin vegetation in its 

 present state. Controlled burning should be implemented 

 to maintain the diversity of the pocosin system. Patrolling, 

 gates , and enforcement agreements with the state ' s Wildlife 

 Resources Commission may be needed to control unlawful hunting. 



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