A review of management plans and corresponding progress reports for Picoides borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpecker)
(Book - Regular Print)

Includes bibliographical references.

Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) has been on the endangered species list since 1970. Stable P. borealis populations require older longleaf pine stands that have red heart rot in the older trees, maintained by frequent surface fire that suppress growth of hardwoods. A variety of factors endanger P. borealis with habitat loss. It is now over ten years since publication of the last federal management plan for P. borealis in 2003. Slow recovery and the need to apply recent research make this a good time to evaluate the effectiveness of management. The thesis has two main components. The first component is a literature review on the biology of P. borealis, with the goal of identifying the science required when developing a management plan and a focus on new findings. The second component is an evaluation of the effectiveness of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state management plans. Each management plan has its own set of rules and regulations to follow, as well as a detailed plan, to meet the goals. Some procedures appear to be more successful than others. The major goal is to recommend changes to management of P. borealis that may enhance recovery. From a species perspective, it appears that the Red-cockaded Woodpecker has increased and many populations are becoming stabilized. However, the species is still endangered because its ideal habitat of older long-leaf pine woodland is largely converted to other habitats for human land use, and by fire suppression. The growth of human population and increasing pressure to subdivide existing blocks of Red-cockaded Woodpecker habitat on private lands represents a big challenge to conservation of the species over the long term. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done in order for the species to be delisted and for there to be a viable and stable populations throughout the species' range.