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Eastern Forests
Eastern forests encompass 430 million acres, or 22% of the land area of the contiguous 48 states, including central and northern hardwoods, mixed-conifer forests, and southern pine forests. Only 15% of eastern forests is publicly owned, much less than in the West. As urban sprawl increases dramatically, however, large blocks of public forestland are increasingly important for the long-term conservation of birds. State ownership of forests is three times greater in the East than the West, with 31 million acres of state forestlands that are extremely important for the long-term protection of eastern forest birds. More than 2 million acres of forest are protected in Great Smoky Mountains and other National Parks.
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| Percentage of the U.S. distribution of 34 eastern forest-breeding bird species on public vs. nonpublic lands (left). Breakdown of bird distribution on public lands shown for each public agency (right). |
Eastern Forest Birds on Public Lands
Public lands support only 15% of the distribution of the 34 eastern
forest obligate breeding species, a much lower percentage than in the
West. About 6% is on state lands and 6% in National Forests.
Two endangered birds are also the species with the highest
proportion of their geographic distribution on public forestland.
Ninety-seven percent of the Kirtland’s Warbler’s small breeding
distribution is on public land, with 56% on state land and 35% in
National Forests. Similarly, 90% of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker
distribution is on public land, including 41% in National Forests, 29%
on DoD land, and 12% on state land. Publicly managed forests are
critical for the recovery of these endangered species.
Mature deciduous forest species, such as Kentucky and Cerulean
warblers, tend to have a higher-than-average proportion of their
distribution on public lands, especially in National Forests. In
contrast, common yet steeply declining birds of shrub-scrub habitats,
such as Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, and Field Sparrow, have 10% or
less of their distribution on public land. An exception is the
Golden-winged Warbler, one of the most steeply declining songbirds in
the U.S., with 30% of its distribution on public land, including 16% on
state land and 12% in National Forests.
Conservation Successes
One of the nation’s most endangered bird species, the Kirtland’s
Warbler, has increased in numbers and distribution in response to
intense management of jack pine forests on 190,000 acres of National
Forest, National Wildlife Refuge, and state lands in Michigan,
including prescribed cuts and fires to restore natural conditions.
These efforts represent successful partnerships among public landowners
to implement recovery goals under the Endangered Species Act.
DoD lands in the Southeast have been very important for the recovery of
the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker. Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was
the first public land unit to reach the population recovery goal of 350
nesting clusters, and the frequent fires on military lands are
compatible with healthy woodpecker populations.
Conservation Challenges
As privately owned forests in the East are rapidly lost to
urban and exurban development, increasing the total area of public
forestland will be important for maintaining healthy populations of
forest birds. Improved management of the urban-forest interface through
zoning buffers, reduction of deer populations, and control of feral
cats and other invasive species will also benefit bird populations.
Aggressive actions to limit the effects of nonnative forest pests will
be necessary for public lands to serve as future refugia for birds and
other biodiversity.
Although many large forest areas are protected on public lands,
historic recovery of eastern forests after a period of vast clearing
for agriculture, combined with a century of fire suppression, have
resulted in a loss of structural features and age diversity necessary
to sustain many birds of high conservation concern, especially those
dependent on forest understory and disturbance. Active management to
create and maintain early successional habitats is vital for the
long-term conservation of many declining species, including increased
restoration of naturally disturbed habitats such as pine-barrens and
oak glades.
