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Current Status:

Threats to the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) include: (1) loss of small, geographically isolated populations; (2) growth of hardwood midstory in their preferred habitat of "open" pine forests; (3) loss of nesting and foraging habitat from southern pine beetle infestations; and (4) short rotation forest management, particularly on private lands. The development of hardwood midstories in southern pine forests is directly attributable to decades of fire suppression and lack of aggressive and extensive growing season (generally April-August) prescribed burning programs. As most of the recovery populations exists on federally owned or managed lands, the Fish and Wildlife Service has been active in supporting the concept of ecosystem management and timber harvesting practices that promote species recovery and protection.

Achievements:

The RCW has responded very favorably to advances in artificial cavity technology. A significant limiting factor for RCW recovery is the lack of old growth (80-120+ years) pine trees in the southeast. Artificial cavities can be provided in younger trees and thus serve as a short-term population stabilizing factor, while forests are grown to older ages. Translocation of RCWs (generally relocating a juvenile female to the established territory of a single male) is another proven management tool being used to prevent further declines of already small populations. RCWs have been moved from Texas to Arkansas to supplement the population on the Ouachita National Forest.

Artificial cavity and translocation programs can be used to stop population declines in small populations and increase the rate of population expansion in both small and large populations. Use of these management practices can reverse decades of population declines and should be fully implemented during the short-term (next 20-40 years) while forests produce the older trees needed for RCWs to survive on their own. Translocation and artificial cavity construction techniques will be employed on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. The Fish and Wildlife Service is currently consulting informally with the Forest Service as it develops its regionwide (11 States with RCWs) environmental impact statement for management of the RCW. Formal consultation is expected to begin in the spring of 1993.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is currently active in discussing the applicability of a rangewide Habitat Conservation Plan for small property private landowners. Silvicultural and State forestry groups in Arkansas are interested and expected to take part in the Habitat Conservation Plan, once the concept is finalized. This would allow for incidental take of small, demographically isolated populations, which are biologically "doomed" regardless of efforts by the Service or landowners to manage and "save" them. Mitigation could include translocation of juveniles to Federal or other public properties that have conservation programs in place.

Current Recovery Needs:

Recovery actions should include: (1) development of comprehensive conservation and management plans for national forests and military installations responsible for RCW recovery; (2) halting population declines in small, non-viable populations; (3) habitat restoration and maintenance through the aggressive use of prescribed fire; and (4) development of a private lands strategy that addresses the role of private lands in RCW conservation efforts.

Partnerships

Forest Service: This Federal agency was responsible for developing artificial cavities and translocation techniques for the RCW. The Forest Service has also developed a strategy and management plan to increase the existing population of 15-20 RCW groups to 250 groups on the Ouachita National Forest.

Georgia-Pacific Corporation: Georgia-Pacific has the largest RCW population (about 50 groups) in southern Arkansas, which is currently the largest population in the State. The Fish and Wildlife Service is working with Georgia-Pacific on a comprehensive management plan for this population, as well as all RCWs it has on its 3.5 million acres of southern timberlands (including several hundred thousand acres in Arkansas). The management plan probably will take the form of a Memorandum of Understanding and will provide this industrial forest company a framework to promote conservation of RCWs while meeting private management objectives.

Recovery Plan Status:

Original plan approved 8/24/79; revised 4/11/85.