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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. Artificial cavities have been highly successful in increasing the population on the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina following Hurricane Hugo, which destroyed most of the existing RCW cavity trees and killed about 60 percent of the RCWs. 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.

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 have been employed to expand the existing small population on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. It is hoped that this federally maintained site will provide refugia to a moderately sized RCW population. RCWs have also been moved within the national forests of South Carolina. 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 South Carolina 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. By providing artificial cavities, the Forest Service has been highly successful in increasing the RCW population on the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina following Hurricane Hugo.

Department of the Army: In 1991, the Department convened a full-time team to address Army responsibilities and plans for RCW management on all installations harboring the species, including several in South Carolina. It is expected that this effort will lead to initiation of formal section 7 consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service in 1993.

Good Hope Plantation: Good Hope Plantation, a privately maintained quail and forestry/agricultural operation in southwestern South Carolina, has expressed interest in developing a timber management plan that protects the RCW. It is hoped that all large landowners in South Carolina will consider developing an Habitat Conservation Plan to facilitate ROW protection while maintaining private management objectives.

Recovery Plan Status:

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