Opportunities for Collaborative Conservation: Redcockaded Woodpeckers on Private Land

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Opportunities for Collaborative Conservation
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers on Private Land

• Eric Spadgenske
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife
• Birmingham, Alabama

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RCW Basics

• Endangered
• Cooperative Breeder
• Family Groups
• Territorial
• Old Growth Pines
• Free of Midstory
• Rich Groundcover
• Fire Maintained

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Habitat Specialist
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Source www.natureserve.org
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RCW Population Trend - Rangewide

• Year - Active Clusters
• 1993 - 4,694
• 2003 - 5,625
• 2004 - 5,800
• 2005 - 5,903
• 2006 over 6000
• Approximate 27 increase

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RCWs in Alabama

• Less than 160 active clusters in state
• Majority found on National Forests
• Oakmulgee District 100 groups
• Conecuh NF 24 groups
• Shoal Creek District 14 groups
• 2 known populations on private land

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Private Landowners

• Over ½ of Listed Species Have over 80 of their
  Habitat on Private Land
• Upwards of 90 of Alabama in Private Ownership
• Major Shift to Recreational Landownership
• Over 1 Million acres of new longleaf plantations
  since the mid 1990s
• Longleaf pine restoration continues to be a major
  emphasis of PFW, PSGP, Farm Bill

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Quail Plantations

• Large Landowners
• Long Timber Rotations
• Open Character
• Aesthetics
• Permanent Protection
• Safe Harbor

Map Credit Alabama Quail Trail
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Map Credit Theron Terhune
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PSGP in AL

• 143,795 in 2005
• 27,315 in 2007
• 30,000 acres
• RCW Conservation
• Habitat Management
• Longleaf Pine
• Safe Harbor
• Landowner Demo
• Other TE Benefits
• Additional PSGP Awards
• for Longleaf Restoration

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Enon and Sehoy
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Enon and Sehoy

• 26,150 acres Managed for Bobwhite
• Over 18,000 acres Under Conservation Easement
• Over 15,000 acres Burned Annually
• 4 Groups of RCWs
• Spiraling Downward

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Enon and Sehoy

• Private Stewardship Grant Awarded 2005
• Population Monitoring
• Stabilize Population
• Install Insert Cavities
• Habitat (Baseline) Survey 2006
• Inaugural Safe Harbor Enrollee 2007

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Translocation MOA

• Critically Small Population
• Population Goal 30 Groups
• Safe Harbor in Place
• Baseline Set at 10
• Recruitment Sites Selected
• 3 Pair in 2007 through SRTC
• 3-5 Pair Every Other Year

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2007 Recruitment Strategy
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Goal Population Viability
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Lake Mitchell Project

• Unique Piedmont / Montane Longleaf
• 14 Groups
• Two Major Landowners
• 20 years without management
• Severe Habitat Degradation
• On Verge of Collapse

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Lake Mitchell Partners

• Alabama Power Company
• Hancock
• AL DCNR
• Wildlife Consultant
• FERC
• Tornado 2004

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Lake Mitchell Plans

• Aggressive Response
• Replacement Cavities
• Additional Inserts
• Midstory Control
• Rx Fire
• Management Plan
• Safe Harbor

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Lake Mitchell Implementation

• Logistical Support
• Re-thinking of Traditional Management
• Population Monitoring
• Technical Assistance Great Dividends

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Results Improved Habitat
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Safe Harbor

• 270 agreements rangewide including over 621,000
  acres of pine habitat
• Over 617 RCW groups enrolled
• 61 Safe Harbor groups (above baseline)
• Statewide agreements approved in 8 States
• Over 4 Million USFWS funding to states for
  agreement development, and enrollees for
  implementation through various programs

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Why Safe Harbor?

• RCW Recovery is Dependent on the Contribution of
  Private Landowners
• Landowners Need Assurances that Having Endangered
  Species Will Not Dictate Any Specific Land
  Management Strategy
• Win-Win
• Government Gains Endangered Species Habitat
  Essential for Species Recovery
• Landowners Gain Regulatory Assurances and
  Maintain Control of their Land

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Private Stewardship Grants Program

• Nearly 40 awards directly related to RCW or
  longleaf pine
• Most awards to NGOs/Consultants representing
  numerous private landowners
• Over 4 million awarded since 2003
• Largest PSGP Award to date, 464,925, to support
  RCW conservation on 42 properties enrolled in
  Safe Harbor
• Over 650,000 PSGP in 2007

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Incentive-Based Conservation

• Habitat Management for Endangered Species is
  Expensive
• Most Landowners Want to Do the Right Thing
• Private Landowners should not be Expected to Bear
  the Burden Alone
• A Few Dollars can Stretch into Major Conservation

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Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)

• Administered by ADCNR
• 850,000 Awarded in July 2007
• Cost-sharing (75) and Technical Assistance
• Major Emphasis on RCW Conservation
• Including Safe Harbor Implementation
• Baseline Surveys
• Habitat Enhancement
• Longleaf Restoration
• Prescribed Burning

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Opportunities to Partner

• East Gulf Coastal Plain Joint Venture
• Army Compatible Use Buffer Program
• Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and
  Sustainability
• TNC and other NGOs
• Farm Bill
• NRCS Special Projects and Focus Areas
• LIP, PFW, Section 6, State Wildlife Grants, PSGP
• Land Acquisition (e.g., Forever Wild)

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Conclusions

• Incentive-based Conservation Works
• Use all the Tools
• Build from a Core
• Partnerships are Key
• Each Program Needs a Champion
• Patience