The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has cited the conservation benefits of privately owned forests in several recent decisions regarding federally listed or at-risk species. These success stories encourage private forest owners to participate in voluntary, proactive conservation efforts, and they show that we can simultaneously address species conservation and the economic objectives of working forests.
Wildlife Conservation
A Collaborative Approach to
Conservation Works
LOUISIANA BLACK BEAR:
FOREST CORRIDORS ACROSS PRIVATE LANDS PROVE TO BE A CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service credits the strong support from private forest owners as a significant reason for the recovery of the Louisiana Black Bear, which was listed in 1992 and delisted in 2016. When the Louisiana Black Bear was listed, most of the land within its historic range was in private forest ownership. A USFWS 4(d) rule put in place at the time the bear was listed appropriately recognized the conservation benefits for the bear provided by forested land and encouraged private forest owners to provide forested landscapes for bear habitat. In particular, the creation of forest corridors on privately owned lands, which connected critical bear habitats, proved to be one of the keys to success in supporting the bear’s recovery.
PACIFIC FISHER:
WORKING WITH PRIVATE FOREST OWNERS TO AVOID LISTING
Since 1990, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has been monitoring Pacific fisher populations in California, Oregon and Washington, while encouraging private forest landowners to help in the conservation of this species. Private forest owners in these states developed conservation agreements to support both existing and introduced populations, worked with the USFWS to provide considerable data about the species, and worked with the USFWS and state wildlife agencies to develop strategies for its conservation. As a result, in part, of these proactive, collaborative efforts, USFWS concluded in 2016 that the Pacific fisher does not warrant listing.
NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT:
FOREST MANAGEMENT CITED AS ‘VITAL’ FOR CONSERVATION OF SPECIES
The northern long-eared bat is threatened by the white nose syndrome disease. When the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the species as threatened, it adopted a special rule under section 4(d) that recognized that the threat to the species was from disease, not habitat loss, and specifically noted forest management as critical to its recovery: “Continued forest management and silviculture is vital to the conservation and recovery of the northern long-eared bat.” Streamside management zones provide roost and foraging habitat for the species, and various working forest stages provide excellent foraging areas for most bat species, including the northern long eared bat.
GOPHER TORTOISE:
RESEARCH UNDERWAY ON PRIVATE LANDS
Working with the USFWS as part of the At-Risk Species Conservation Initiative, private forest owners are proactively deploying management practices that create and maintain habitat for the gopher tortoise, particularly in young forest and open canopy conditions. Current pine forest management practices ensure favorable conditions for the herbaceous plants that are critical for gopher tortoise populations. Surveys are documenting more tortoises on private lands, as well as young tortoises that are evidence of successful reproduction.
READ MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE
TO PRIVATE FOREST OWNERS
Conservation groups agree that the greatest threat to many wildlife species is the loss of forested habitats. Recent research shows that the more forests are economically valued, the more likely they are to stay forested.
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