BioBlitz documents diversity in the Craggies
Josh Kelly discusses the concept of National Scenic Area designation with Congressman Chuck Edwards. MountainTrue photo
In a single-day BioBlitz aimed at documenting biodiversity in the Craggy Mountains, 100 people photographed 1,603 organisms representing 647 species.
MountainTrue organized the event June 10-25, with options for both in-person and virtual participation. In total, 20 expert naturalists and 87 citizen scientists teamed up to explore the area. Notable finds include the northern pygmy salamander, Canada honeysuckle, deer-hair bullrush, Goldie’s fern, round-leaved orchid and a remarkable abundance of diverse moth species.
Due to their natural beauty and biological diversity, the Craggy Mountains have been proposed for permanent protection as a National Scenic Area. Doing so will require an act of Congress and the signature of the president. MountainTrue and its organizational partners have had several meetings with Congressman Chuck Edwards, Senator Thom Tillis, Senator Ted Budd and their staff to discuss the idea.
