Forest Habitat
Long-leaf Pine Forests of the southeastern United States have rapidly diminished. The destruction of these pine forests has caused species such as the Red Cockaded Woodpecker to become endangered. The Sandhills region of North Carolina supports the largest populations that are actively being conserved by the U.S. Army at Ft. Bragg and Camp McCall. However, the Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) and other species are very threatened by development on non-federal lands adjacent to military bases and throughout long-leaf pine forests that are linkages between RCW populations or families (clans).
Loss of remaining forest habitat lands prevents the RCW from recovering and pushes the birds and others further towards extinction. The photographs on this page speak for themselves. On North Carolina Rt. 211 one can see that logging has not stopped. Diversity of plants and animals associated with hardwoods are being cleared away for management of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker, leaving only long-leaf pine trees behind. Destruction of old growth (trees over 80 years old) and fire suppression over years has caused forest density that caused the woodpeckers decline in numbers. While the government manages the forest for one endangered species, questions arise as to what will come of all the other species that are being removed from the equation.
The Habitat Trust believes that the best way to protect the endangered Red Cockaded Woodpecker, and the other 1,000 species known to live in the long-leaf pine forest, is for landholders to donate parcels or to let us buy it. Currently, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is giving landholders "No Surprises" assurances that they will receive permits to kill (take) RCWs in the future if they enter into a "Safe Harbor" program now for short-term management of forest lands. Rather than having taxpayers and U.S. Congress subsidize landholders for short-term "Safe Harbor" agreements, The Habitat Trust prefers long-term conservation of forest habitat and recovery of endangered species through acquisition of the land. It just makes sense to first acquire the forest habitat and secondly to manage it. The "Safe Harbor" program appears to be managing habitat and then allowing it to be destroyed later.
Forest Habitat In-holdings
The Habitat Trust recognizes the need to acquire private in-holdings of land within our National Forests. It is important to keep forest habitats contiguous, landscape linkages intact and wildlife movement corridors accessible to large mammals such as mountain lions, bighorn sheep, bears and deer, as well as many other species of plants and animals. Development of forest in-holdings often causes fragmentation and isolation of habitats and wildlife. Encouraging landholders to donate or sell to The Habitat Trust for conservation purposes can prevent such loss and disruption of vital forest habitats.