The protection changed by the Trump administration banned the harvesting of trees 21 inches or greater in diameter and instead emphasized maintaining a mix of trees, with trees at least 150 years old prioritized for protection and favoring fire-tolerant species
Both the Carolina madtom catfish and the Neuse River waterdog salamander have been listed under the Endangered Species Act,
News Channel 12 reports. The Endangered Species Act is the most effective tool available to save plants and animals from extinction, so it s good news that these special North Carolina creek critters now have the habitat safeguards they need to survive, said
Tierra Curry, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the small Carolina madtom was classified as an endangered species while the slightly larger Neuse River waterdog will receive protection as a threatened species.