PINE SAVANNAH: Proposed Actions

Actions (Objective 1)

Identify lands with adequate timber to support clans now and/or lands with the potential to support clans within the next 20 years.
Background and Progress: A comprehensive survey of the entire southeastern portion of Virginia for lands with the potential to support Red-cockaded Woodpeckers has recently been completed (Bradshaw, unpub. data). Approximately 15 sites including approximately 3,500 ha of oldgrowth pine remain that seem to be adequate to meet the breeding requirements of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers if restored. Approximately 1,600 ha of this land is already under protection. However, only half is being managed. Remaining land is privately owned and neither protected or managed. An additional 15 sites occur including not more than 2,000 ha with conditions that might support woodpeckers in the next 20 years. A portion of these sites have historically been controlled by or have recently been acquired by PIF partners.

Where possible, acquire 1) lands with active Red-cockaded Woodpecker clans and 2) lands identified as having high potential for supporting clans now or in the near future.
Background and Progress: Over the past 20 years, land ownership has been an impediment to the management and recovery of the pine savannah community within the planning unit. All active clans of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers have occurred on private lands managed primarily for wood production. Within the past year, The Nature Conservancy has purchased just over 600 ha of oldgrowth pineland that supports the core of the remaining Red-cockaded Woodpecker population. The primary mission of this new reserve will be the restoration of pine savannah habitat. If successful, this project may be expanded to 3 other sites that occur on lands controlled by PIF partners. These sites include the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, a Virginia Natural Heritage Reserve on the North Landing River and the Zuni Pine Barrens. Collectively, these lands may be adequate to support 20-25 woodpecker clans and other associated species.

Restore and manage pine savannah habitat.
Background and Progress: After the elevation of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker to endangered status at the federal level, and the institution of current monitoring programs, the loss of active breeding sites due to logging of cavity trees has ended within the planning unit. The majority of breeding sites that have been lost over the past 15 years have been due to abandonment caused by hardwood encroachment and related problems. The difficulties of managing habitat on private lands has decimated the population. In addition, much of the remaining oldgrowth pine that represented potential future breeding sites was harvested in 1994 with the beetle scare of the century. In 1996 hardwood trees were removed from lands that form the core of the remaining population. Current management plans include the full restoration of these lands to pine savannahs by instituting a prescribed burning program.

Restore and manage Red-cockaded Woodpecker population.
Background and Progress: Restoration of the woodpecker population will require the aggressive use of techniques that have been successful further south. Ultimately, this will require the translocation of birds either to increase the small gene pool or to establish clans on new sites. Agencies within the planning unit have been slow to adopt management techniques that are well established further south. The use of cavity excluders was initiated in 1990 to reduce impacts by cavity competitors. A color-marking program was initiated in 1998 so that individual birds could be monitored with greater certainty. An agreement to drill supplemental cavities has been made and will begin in 1999.

Actions (Objective 2)

Maintain structural condition of understory vegetation by establishing a burn program.
Background and Progress: Bachman's Sparrows require a dense ground cover in the first meter layer and only scattered shrubs and trees in higher layers. This vegetation structure is best maintained by burning on a 3-4 year rotation. Over time such burning will select for fire-prone species that are part of the southern pine ecosystem. Lands currently occupied by Red-cockaded Woodpeckers have had a long history of hardwood growth. Most hardwoods were removed mechanically from these lands in 1996. Plans have been developed to initiate a burning program within the next year.

Restore understory plant community.
Background and Progress: Bachman's Sparrows typically require a significant coverage of bunch grasses and forbs for nesting. Restoration of open pine savannahs must consider floristics in addition to plant structure. Oldgrowth pine stands considered for restoration have supported a hardwood plant community for many years. Removal of hardwoods does not necessarily ensure regeneration of a savannah understory. Restoration of the savannah habitat may require overseeding with grasses or other appropriate plants.

Actions (Objective 3)

Determine the status and distribution of remaining maritime pine savannahs (particularly on partnership lands).
Background and Progress: A large portion of the remaining maritime pine savannahs occur on lands controlled by PIF partners. These lands need to be surveyed to determine the extent and condition of remaining pine savannahs. A preliminary list of such lands has been compiled for the region (Appendix 4.1). However, further work is needed to quantify remaining habitat.

Develop guidelines for the improvement of remaining savannahs and the restoration of lost savannahs where appropriate.
Background and Progress: Many of the maritime pine savannahs that remain within the region have been degraded by hardwood encroachment or invasion by common reed (Phragmites spp.). Based on the inventory results, significant savannahs should be targeted for restoration. Guidelines that outline appropriate restoration techniques should be developed. No progress has been made on this action.

Improve and restore maritime pine savannahs.
Background and Progress: Once significant lands have been identified and restoration guidelines have been developed, habitats need to be restored and maintained. No specific progress has been made on this action. However, in an attempt to revegetate several hundred kilometers of shoreline to improve water quality, several government programs now provide incentives to private landowners to restore shoreline vegetation. Funds have been appropriated to several agencies to fund revegetation projects. Maritime pine savannahs should be included as a valuable target habitat within these programs.