Conservation 

Choices

for Wildlife

Golden-winged Warbler

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Your Guide to NRCS-Recommended 

Sustainable Forestry Practices

and Other Forest-dependent Species
About This Guide

This guide outlines seven key conservation practices recommended 

to forest landowners who want to sustainably manage forests to benefit wildlife and forest health. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS) and conservation partners work with forest landowners to plan and implement these practices that benefit a variety of 

species, including the golden-winged warbler. This assistance includes the development of a custom forest management plan as well 

as financial support to help cover part of the costs of implementing 

the practices. Technical and financial assistance are available through 

the Farm Bill, the largest source of federal funding for private lands 

conservation. 

NRCS has worked side-by-side with agricultural producers to implement conservation practices that clean and conserve water, boost 

soil health, and improve the quality of habitat and air, all while helping producers increase the productivity and resiliency on their working lands.
Managing for Healthy, Diverse 

Forests

Forest landowners can use 

sustainable forestry practices 

to improve the overall health 

of their forests, featuring forest 

patches of different ages and 

types. Healthy forests, just like 

healthy human populations, are 

sustained by a diversity of ages. 

Each group has a role to play in 

maintaining the whole community over the long term. But the 

nation’s mature forests, especially in the East, are about the same 

age – 80-120 years old. The loss 

of different age classes across 

forests negatively impacts many 

different wildlife species that 

use different types and ages of 

forests for different parts of their 

life cycle. 

Historically, natural disturbances 

like wildfires created patches of 

young forests and other early 

successional habitats, such as old 

fields and pastures. Nowadays, 

people largely control these 

natural processes to protect life 

and property, which has led to 

a decline in young forests and 

other disturbance-dependent 

forested landscapes. Through 

the use of conservation practices, forest landowners are able to 

compensate for lack of natural 

disturbance and improve the 

heterogeneity of forests. 

Good forest stewardship 

encourages a distribution of 

forest age classes across large 

landscapes, from young forest 

to old growth forests; it's critical 

to supporting diverse and 

abundant wildlife. To maximize 

golden-winged warbler 

nesting habitat, scientists have 

estimated that about 15 percent 

of the forest landscape should 

be in a young forest condition.

Benefits to You and Wildlife

Managing for healthy, diverse 

forests benefits native wildlife. 

An array of wildlife, including 

game and non-game species, 

benefit from forests with vigorous plant communities, including grasses, forbs, trees, and 

shrubs. NRCS works closely 

with scientists to measure the 

response of species to conservation practices, and they’re 

noticing positive responses 

from wildlife in managed forests.

Families, hunting clubs, and 

other private forest landowners 

managing for timber production can benefit from sustainably managed forests. People 

have even found they can receive assistance from NRCS to 

“reset the clock” on low-value 

forests, regenerating a healthier and more valuable stand 

of trees, and contributing to a 

landscape of healthy forests 

and diverse age classes.

Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

About the Golden-winged 

Warbler

The golden-winged warbler 

(Vermivora chrysoptera) is a 

neotropical migratory songbird 

that breeds in young forests 

and shrubland habitats of the 

Appalachian Mountains and 

upper Great Lakes. Because 

young golden-winged warblers leave young forests for 

more mature forests, the bird 

is a great flagship species for 

demonstrating the value of 

diverse age-class forest management. 

During the past 50 years, this 

vibrant songbird has experienced significant population 

declines throughout much of 

its breeding range including its 

entire Appalachian Mountain 

range. This decline is, in large 

part, because of the loss of 

young forest habitat needed 

for nesting. Because much of 

the bird’s habitat falls on private lands, forest landowners 

are playing an important role in 

helping the bird recover. 

The golden-winged warbler 

travels from its wintering 

grounds in Central America 

and northern South America 

in April to the higher elevations of the Appalachia and 

Each stage of 

a forest, or age 

class, provides 

critical habitat 

for wildlife. 

Young forests 

have more 

seeds, berries, 

and beneficial 

insects.

Other Young Forest Species

American 

Woodcock

Ruffed 

Grouse

Whitetailed Deer

Wild Turkey

2 3

Great Lakes to breed. Once in a 

young forest, the males establish territories, and the females 

build their nests. Nests are built 

on the ground in patches of 

dense vegetation. 

Many game and non-game species also use different ages of 

forests at different life stages 

and different times of year. 

Good forest stewardship that 

encourages a distribution of 

forest stages across large landscapes, from young tree stands 

to older growth, is critical to 

supporting diverse and abundant wildlife. 
Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

Systems to Manage for Young 

Forests

Put simply, forestry is managing 

for desirable plants within a forest stand. Many of the conservation practices in this guide focus 

on reducing undesirable species 

and helping desirable species 

succeed. Undesirable species 

are often called invasive for their 

ability to spread. Many invasives 

are non-native species, which 

are plants that were introduced 

either accidentally or on purpose 

in places they do not normally occur. Invasive plants often 

pose major economic and forest 

health concerns.

Depending on the land and a 

forest landowner’s goals, a variety of techniques can be used 

to create and enhance breeding 

habitat for the golden-winged 

warbler. The most common way 

to create breeding habitat for 

the species is to create young 

forest habitat through timber 

harvesting. In order to successfully regenerate a forest stand, 

preparatory work is often needed to encourage the germination, accumulation and growth 

of desirable tree seedlings. This 

preparatory work includes applying herbicides to the understory 

vegetation to control undesirable 

species such as ferns, certain 

sapling species and non-native 

shrubs. 

This work can also include 

cutting saplings or suppressed, 

smaller trees in the understory 

and midstory to provide appropriate light conditions for desirable seedlings to grow. Once 

desirable seedlings are abundant 

and are large enough to outcompete undesirable seedlings, then 

the overstory can be removed, 

releasing the seedlings and 

resulting in healthy, young forest 

habitat. 

During harvest, residual trees are 

left behind, either in groups (bottom) or evenly spaced (top). Different strategies are used depending 

on topography and other factors. 

A few large and healthy deciduous trees are retained to serve 

as song perches and foraging 

locations for golden-winged 

warblers and other songbirds. 

Whenever possible, standing 

dead trees, called snags, are 

also retained because they serve 

as song perches for the golden-winged warbler and benefit 

many other wildlife species that 

may nest or forage in the decaying wood. 

Forest landowners can also 

use prescribed burning, brush 

management, and other practices to set back the succession of 

shrubs in old fields, which also 

creates golden-winged warbler 

nesting habitat. And in some 

places, such as the high-elevation pastures in West Virginia, 

landowners can also use low-intensity grazing with domestic 

livestock to slow vegetative succession (generally during May 

through October) and maintain 

quality brushy habitat. 

Assistance through the Farm Bill

The Farm Bill enables NRCS to help landowners plan and carry 

out these actions, providing free technical assistance and financial 

help with implementation of projects. The Environmental Quality 

Incentives Program (EQIP) is one of several conservation programs 

available to help landowners improve the health of their forests. 

Through these programs, NRCS helps landowners select and 

implement conservation practices, including those highlighted in this 

guide.

This assistance often includes the development of a property-wide 

or site-specific forest management plan. An NRCS staff member or 

conservation partner works with landowners to develop a plan that 

meets their goals for the land. The forest management plan includes 

an overview of potential project areas and management activities. 

The development of a plan involves site visits. 

Financial assistance through Farm Bill programs help landowners 

cover the cost of implementing sustainable forestry practices. The 

program can cover up to 75 percent of the implementation cost. 

Applications for assistance are reviewed, ranked and funded several 

times per year. See Get Started with NRCS on page 19 for more 

information on this process.

Contracts take multiple years to complete, often beginning with 

preparatory work and then followed by a harvest. Keep reading 

to learn more about the different sustainable forestry practices 

available to improve the health of privately owned or managed 

forests.

NRCS staff members and partners 

work one-on-one 

with forest landowners to plan 

and implement 

sustainable forestry practices.

4 5

Sustainable forestry practices are available to forest landowners 

across the country. In certain places, NRCS coordinates additional 

targeted efforts to restore and create habitat for the golden-winged 

warbler. The agency’s Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) bring 

together conservation partners, including the American Bird Conservancy, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, and others, to accelerate conservation for the golden-winged warbler, which 

serves as an indicator of forest health.

Targeted Efforts for the Goldenwinged Warbler
The golden-winged warbler is one of eight nationally identified 

WLFW target species. NRCS and its partners work closely with 

the public to design conservation approaches for at-risk species 

that allow working forests, farms and ranches to continue to be 

profitable while precluding the need to list those species under 

the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Since WLFW was launched in 

2012, NRCS, its partners and participating landowners have worked 

together to restore more than 13,000 acres of golden-winged 

warbler habitat.

Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

Measuring Outcomes of 

Conservation Practices

NRCS and its conservation partners use science to measure the biological benefits of habitat improvements. By assessing the response 

of a species and vegetation to conservation practices, NRCS is able 

to fine-tune practices to maximize beneficial outcomes. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University and their partners are conducting the largest assessment ever on the golden-winged warbler’s 

response to conservation practices aimed to create and enhance 

nesting habitat. 

These assessments measure the bird’s use of the managed land as 

well as the survival and habitat use of their young, and this research 

is leading to recommendations for better habitat management. Similar assessments are underway for other species including the American woodcock and New England cottontail. 

Students and technicians of Indiana University of Pennsylvania catch and 

collect data on golden-winged warbler males.

Targeted Effort in Appalachia

NRCS conservation practices for establishing young forests aim to benefit 

game and non-game species as well as the forestry operation.

6 7

This map shows 

where NRCS is 

targeting conservation for the 

golden-winged 

warbler through 

Working Lands 

for Wildlife in 

the Appalachian 

Mountains. 

Inside of the 

project boundaries, NRCS further 

targets resources 

to priority areas 

for conservation, 

or PACs. For 

more information on PACs, 

see the agency's 

implementation 

strategy.

Target Effort in Great Lakes Region

An RCPP project led by American Bird Conservancy provides 

additional assistance for forest landowners in priority areas of 

Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. Funding through this project 

is available through 2019. Contact Kevin Sheppard at ksheppard@

abcbirds.org if interested in learning more about this program. 

This map shows 

where American 

Bird Conservancy 

is targeting conservation for the 

golden-winged 

warbler in three 

states in the Great 

Lakes region. 
Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES 8 9

Conservation 

Choices

The conservation practices 

below are the main activities 

that forest landowners can use 

to manage for young forest 

habitat. Additional practices 

are available to complement 

the core practices, resulting 

in a working conservation 

system. Use this booklet to 

identify the practices that 

could help improve the health 

and productivity of your forest 

for the golden-winged warbler, 

woodcock, and many other 

wildlife species. 1 brush management 23 FOREST STAND 

IMPROVEMENT

4 EARLY SUCCESSIONAL 

HABITAT DEVELOPMENT 

AND MANAGEMENT

5

HERBACEOUS WEED 

CONTROL

67 PRESCRIBED BURNing

tree/shrub 

establishment

Upland wildlife 

habitat management

7

2

1

3

6

5

4
In most cases, undesirable herbaceous vegetation must be treated 

with herbicide to achieve good 

control and is often the most 

cost effective method, especially if woody plant species must 

also be treated at the same time 

in the same area. In some cases, 

herbicide is the only method that 

is recommended to successfully 

kill certain species. Consult your 

local extension office or a certified 

herbicide applicator to ensure 

the most effective and economic 

herbicide and concentration of 

herbicide are being used.

Manage invasive species in a manner that will prevent the spread 

of the species to a new area. If 

needed, additional treatments and 

practices will be applied to protect 

soils and prevent erosion.

Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

2 HERBACEOUS WEED CONTROL

The Basics

Herbaceous weed control is the 

removal or control of herbaceous 

or non-woody plants. Some 

herbaceous plants are undesirable, 

such as invasives and aggressively 

growing natives. These plants 

often pose major economic and 

forest health concerns.

Benefits

» Restores or releases native 

plant communities or creates 

desired plant communities and 

wildlife habitat consistent with 

the ecological site.

» Improves growing conditions 

for native and desirable seedlings, saplings, shrubs, forbs, 

and grasses.

» Improves herbaceous plant 

communities to benefit pollinators that preferentially forage 

on native herbaceous species.

Considerations

» Is there undesirable herbaceous 

vegetation in the understory of 

your forest stand?

» Is there undesirable herbaceous 

vegetation in an old farm field? 

» Do you have the ability (time, 

equipment and labor) to control the herbaceous vegetation or will you need to hire a 

contractor? 

Notes

Maintenance

» Following initial application, 

some regrowth, resprouting, 

or reoccurrence of herbaceous 

weeds may be expected. 

» Vegetation treated with herbicide should be monitored and 

re-treated if any new growth is 

observed. 

» Some species, like Japanese 

stiltgrass, may require follow-up 

spot treatments.

1 BRUSH MANAGEMENT

The Basics

Brush management is the removal, 

reduction, or manipulation of 

woody saplings, trees, and shrubs. 

In a forest, brush management can 

be used to manage undesirable 

woody species in the understory 

of the stand. Control of seedlings, 

saplings, and shrubs can be done 

mechanically by a forestry mower 

or chainsaw or chemically with an 

herbicide. The herbicide treatment 

can be broadcasted or targeted. 

In an old field setting, brush 

management may include mowing 

or the use of herbicide to control 

non-native shrub species. 

Benefits

Considerations

» Are there undesirable seedlings, saplings, or shrubs in 

the understory of your forest 

stand?

» Are there undesirable seedlings, saplings, or shrubs in an 

old reverting farm field? 

» Do you have the ability (time, 

equipment, labor) to control 

the woody vegetation or will 

you need to hire a contractor? 

Notes

Brush management can be 

accomplished by using one or 

both of the following methods:

» Encourages the growth of desirable plant communities.

» Enhances wildlife habitat and 

plant species diversity.

» Benefits pollinators that preferentially forage on native woody 

species.

» Mechanical control alone often 

does not kill woody vegetation. 

Monitor cut stems of trees and 

shrubs for re-sprouting. 

» Even the best herbicide applications aren’t 100 percent 

effective all the time. Treated 

areas should be monitored and 

re-treated.

Maintenance

» Mechanical Control: In an old 

field setting this would include 

mowing with a rotary mower or 

forestry mower, cutting shrubs, 

or undesirable trees or saplings 

with a chainsaw, or even pulling 

out non-native shrubs with a 

tractor and a chain. In a forest, 

mechanical control is typically conducted with a forestry 

mower or a chainsaw. 

» Chemical Control Herbicides: 

This includes broadcast, foliar, 

cut-stem, hack and squirt, or 

basal bark treatments of herbicides. This is often the most 

cost-effective way to manage 

undesirable and non-native 

woody species and in some 

cases, it is the only method that 

is recommended to successfully kill certain species. Consult 

your local extension office or a 

certified herbicide applicator.

10 11
Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

Maintenance

» After treatment, assess the 

stand to ensure that objectives 

have been met. 

» Roads, skid trails, and log 

landings should be reshaped if 

necessary to prevent erosion 

and seeded and mulched where 

necessary. The seed mix should 

not contain invasive species or 

chemicals.

» Typically conducted in oak forests where no desirable seedlings (regeneration) are present 

in the understory. 

» Often involves treating competing small seedlings, saplings, 

and shrubs in the understory 

that are creating dense shade 

low to the forest floor. 

» Treatment can be mechanical 

(hand felling with a chainsaw), 

chemical (foliar, broadcast, 

hack and squirt, or basal bark 

herbicide applications), or both.

» Usually non-commercial.

Some forest stand improvement 

activities are conducted later in 

the stand’s rotation and have the 

goal of regenerating the forest 

stand in the near future. Examples 

of these activities include: 

Low shade removal —

Preparatory harvest —

» Reduction of stand density 

to about 80 to 85 percent by 

cutting trees from intermediate and co-dominant crown 

classes.

» Desirable regeneration is present but small.

» Few if any canopy gaps are 

created.

Shelterwood harvest —

» Used to provide more light to 

existing seedlings in the case of 

oak forests. May be used as first 

cut in other forest types where 

vigorous seed origin regeneration is expected. 

» Reduction of stand density to 

about 60 percent by cutting 

trees from all crown classes.

» Goal is to leave best mature 

trees for potential future 

harvests once seedlings have 

matured.

12 13

» Various methods are used.

» Consult a qualified forester.

» Harvest may not specify the 

best trees; a cutting prescription is applied to the entire 

stand to improve stand quality. 

3 FOREST STAND IMPROVEMENT

The Basics

Forest stand improvement 

is manipulating the species 

composition, structure, and 

stocking of trees in a forest stand. 

Like many forestry practices, 

they're best implemented at a 

certain point in a forest's rotation. 

A rotation is the period of time 

between the establishment of a 

forest stand and when it's ready 

for harvest. 

Benefits

» Improves forest health and tree 

productivity.

» Reduces susceptibility to pests.

» Improves wildlife habitat.

» Removes or reduces undesirable plants. 

Considerations

» What is the goal in a particular 

forest stand? 

» Is the goal to improve the 

quality of the stand (which 

typically happens during 

the first third of the stand's 

rotation)?

» Or is the goal to regenerate 

the forest stand in the near 

future?

Notes

Some forest stand improvement 

activities are implemented early 

on or in the middle of a forest 

stand’s rotation to influence the 

quality of the stand. These actions 

include:

» A qualified forester chooses 

20-100 “crop trees” per acre. 

The crown of each crop tree is 

released from competition on 

three or preferably four sides. 

Trees competing with crop 

trees are cut or killed. 

» This method is very effective at 

improving the quality of the forest stand because the cutting is 

targeted and the best trees in 

the stand are given more room 

to grow. 

» A crop tree release increases a 

tree’s probability of survival for 

many decades. 

» Typically conducted during the 

first third of the rotation, when 

the stand is 10- to 60-years-old.

» The best trees in the stand are 

selected as crop trees.

» Released crop trees increase 

in diameter growth and crown 

size, resulting in increased mast 

production, which benefits 

wildlife that depend on hard 

mast like as acorns. 

» Canopy gaps are created where 

seedlings can germinate and 

grow, providing a complex 

understory that’s beneficial 

to many songbirds and other 

wildlife. 

Thinning —

» Designed to increase the 

quality of the stand, often by 

removing poor-quality trees 

or through a general harvest 

prescription targeting trees of 

a certain species or diameter 

range. 

"Notes" continued on next page.

Crop tree release —
Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

5 UPLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT

The Basics

Upland wildlife habitat 

management is the monitoring of 

the understory of a forest stand 

for seedling germination and 

development. 

Benefits

» Quantifies abundance and size 

of seedlings, saplings, shrubs, 

and herbaceous vegetation in 

the understory of the forest 

stand.

» Helps determine if there are 

undesirable woody and herbaceous species that are competing with desirable plants. 

» Helps determine if there are 

enough desirable tree seedlings 

of competitive size to move to 

the next step in the regeneration process, such as a shelterwood harvest or an overstory 

removal.

» Monitoring and controlling 

undesirable plants improves 

forest health by providing more 

sunlight, water, and nutrients to 

increase value and biodiversity 

in the stand.

Considerations

» What are the desirable tree 

seedling species that are likely 

to be present?

» What are the undesirable species that are likely to be present? Are they non-native? 

» If undesirable species are present, are they competing with 

desirable species?

» Is a qualified forester needed to 

collect or help collect this data?

Notes

Maintenance

» Treatment or re-treatment of 

undesirable herbaceous and 

woody vegetation is necessary. 

» The forest stand is ready for the 

next step in the regeneration 

process. 

This practice helps a landowner 

assess the understory of their 

forest stand. Site-specific data 

is systematically collected to 

assess the status of desirable and 

undesirable plant growth and 

determine if a forest has enough 

desirable species or too many 

undesirable species.

Decisions can then be made about 

whether additional practices are 

needed before the next step in the 

regeneration process. Competing, 

undesirable species may need 

to be controlled via Brush 

Management or Herbaceous Weed 

Control to encourage the growth 

and accumulation of desirable 

plants.

It is sometimes necessary to 

consult with or hire a qualified 

forester if seedlings and other 

plant species are difficult to 

identify. 

Undesirable or non-native plants 

may need to be controlled with 

herbicide if they are competing 

with desirable species.

Site-specific data should be 

reported to a qualified forester and 

local NRCS office to determine 

whether:

These habitats, by nature, are 

ephemeral. That means they're 

present on the landscape for a 

short period of time. In the case 

of regenerating a forest stand, it’s 

perfectly acceptable and natural to 

allow the young forest to mature 

into older forest.

In some cases, such as an abandoned farm field, a landowner may 

wish to maintain the area in permanent early successional habitat. 

In these areas, it will be necessary 

to be vigilant to prevent invasives 

from invading and crowding out 

native woody and herbaceous 

species.

4 EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT 

DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

The Basics

Early successional habitat 

development and management 

is the creation or maintenance 

of young forests, old fields, and 

pastures for golden-winged 

warblers and other species that 

depend on that type of habitat. 

Golden-winged warbler nesting 

habitat consists of scattered 

mature trees (residual trees), 

regenerating seedlings and 

saplings, native shrubs as well 

as small, scattered openings 

with native grasses, forbs, and 

wildflowers that border a mature 

forest.

Benefits

» Provides habitat for a variety 

of wildlife species that rely on 

young forests. Some wildlife 

live almost exclusively in young 

forest habitat while others use 

it for one or more phases of 

their lives.

» Is compatible with silviculturally-sound forest management 

activities. 

» Can be compatible with commercial timber harvests as long 

as good forestry practices for 

harvesting are used. 

» Can improve the composition 

of tree species in degraded 

stands by favoring and encouraging the regeneration of oaks, 

hickories, and other desirable 

species.

» Tree species that benefit wildlife are often commercially-viable species as well.

Considerations

» A property-wide forest management plan is always recommended. If there isn’t one 

for the property, NRCS and 

conservation partners can help 

landowners develop one. 

» Old fields and pastures with 

limited economic opportunity 

can be successfully managed 

for wildlife.

» Consult a qualified forester.

Notes

Maintenance

» Roads, skid trails and log 

landings should be reshaped if 

necessary to prevent erosion 

and seeded and mulched where 

necessary. The seed mix should 

not contain invasive species 

nor species that will inhibit tree 

seedling establishment.

14 15
Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

7 prescribed BURNING

The Basics

Prescribed burning is applying 

fire to forestland within a 

recommended set of conditions, 

dates and with appropriate safety 

precautions to achieve a specific 

purpose.

Benefits

» Controls undesirable vegetation.

» Prepares sites for planting, 

seeding or natural regeneration.

» Controls plant disease.

» Reduces wildfire hazard by 

consuming accumulated fuel.

» Improves wildlife habitat 

through increased browse and 

low cover.

» Enhances seed and fruit production of native plants and 

shrubs.

» Restores fire-adapted ecosystems and plant communities.

Considerations

» Will prescribed burning help 

meet your objectives? For example, are your problem plant 

species well controlled by fire?

» Is fire a safe, practical option 

for your site?

» Are you managing an ecosystem that historically experienced fire?

» Are qualified professionals 

available to assist with planning 

and implementation?

Notes

Maintenance

» Monitor the burned site and 

adjacent areas until ash, debris, 

and other consumed material is 

at pre-burn temperatures.

Burn only to meet a specific 

management objective, generally 

once every 3 to 30 years. It 

may be necessary to burn 

woody vegetation two or more 

consecutive years to control 

undesirable sprouting.

Use existing barriers, such as 

lakes, streams, wetlands, roads 

as well as constructed firebreaks 

when planning the burn. Consider 

any known cultural resources 

and threatened or endangered 

plants and animals that may be 

sensitive to burning or firebreak 

construction.

Smoke could have an impact on 

the surrounding area during and 

after the burn; carefully plan how 

smoke impacts will be managed.

Successful prescribed burning 

depends on many environmental 

factors, such as current and past 

weather, recent precipitation, 

temperature, humidity, and wind 

speed.

In many states, an official burn 

plan and highly skilled personnel 

are required to carry out a 

prescribed burn. 

16 17

6 TREE/ SHRUB ESTABLISHMENT

The Basics

Tree/ shrub establishment is 

the planting of woody plants by 

planting seedlings, container/

potted plants, cuttings, or by 

direct seeding. 

Benefits

» Improves plant species composition in a degraded forest 

stand.

» Reintroduces native shrub 

species.

» Hard (e.g. oak) and soft (e.g. 

serviceberry) mast producing 

tree and shrub species benefit 

wildlife.

» Trees can be established for 

forest products.

» Provides erosion control.

» Improves water quality through 

uptake of soil- and water-borne 

chemicals and nutrients.

» Improves air quality.

» Provides wildlife habitat.

» Stores carbon in biomass.

Considerations

» What are the tree and shrub 

species that are well-suited for 

the site?

» What is the goal of the tree/

shrub planting? 

» Interplanting to improve 

species composition of an 

existing forest stand?

» Establishing a new forest 

on abandoned farmland or 

reclaimed surface mine?

» Improving an old field by 

removing non-native shrubs 

and replacing them with native shrubs?

Notes

Maintenance

» Control competing vegetation 

until the seedlings and shrubs 

are established.

» Check for insect and disease 

damage regularly.

» Replant as needed.

» Plantings must be protected 

from deer, either by tree tubes 

or 8-foot deer exclusion fencing.

» Is there existing vegetation that 

must be controlled before trees 

and shrubs can be established?

Follow state and local regulations 

for locating plants adjacent to 

roadways. Planting date and 

care in handling should ensure 

an acceptable rate of survival. 

NRCS requires a survival rate of 

70 percent. Only use viable, high 

quality, and adapted planting 

stock. Prepare planting site to 

establish and grow selected 

species. Timing and equipment 

should be appropriate for the site 

and soil conditions.
Conservation Choices for Wildlife SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

Get Started with NRCS

With two-thirds of the continental United States under private 

ownership, the management decisions of forest landowners are 

critical to our nation’s natural resources, including the health of 

forests. Forest landowners interested in NRCS assistance are encouraged to contact their local NRCS field office. You’ll work with 

your local NRCS district conservationist and its partners through 

this five-step process:

1

2

Plan

Develop a forest management plan that meets your goals 

and vision for the land. NRCS may be able to help cover 

the cost of this plan.

Apply

Complete an application for financial assistance programs.

3 Eligibility

Provide identification and ownership information. As part 

of this process, NRCS will connect you with USDA’s Farm 

Service Agency to obtain a farm and a tract number if 

you do not have one for your land. NRCS and FSA will 

need some additional eligibility forms, which you can find 

at nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

4 Ranking

Applications are screened and ranked according to local 

resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits 

the work will provide, and the needs of applicants. 

5 Implementation

If your application is selected, you will decide whether 

to sign the contract and move forward with implementation. You will have a certain time period to implement the 

practices in accordance with the NRCS contract. In many 

places, a network of conservation partners are available 

to provide guidance on implementation. 

NRCS or Partner Conservationist:

Staple business card here.

? YOUR LOCAL CONTACT:

Why Work with NRCS

Natalie Love, Huntingdon County, 

Pennsylvania

By working side-by-side with 

NRCS, landowners can receive technical and financial 

assistance to improve their 

forest operation and create 

optimal habitat for wildlife.

Terron Hillsman, State Conservationist, 

Maryland

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“

Here’s what a few people have said:

We recommend working with 

NRCS because unbiased, 

professional foresters provided assistance to create a 

young, healthy forest from 

one that was declining.

Mike and Laura Jackson, Bedford County, 

Pennsylvania

I am completely convinced 

that our work with NRCS and 

other partners will create a 

healthy, productive, sustainable forest that will be our gift 

to future generations.

Sustainable forestry is 

benefitting our personal lives 

as well as wildlife.

Bob Hartmann, Cradle of Liberty Boy Scout 

Council, Pennsylvania

18 19

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Cover: Laura Erickson, NRCS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2: U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service and DJ McNeil. 3: NRCS. 4: NAIP 2015 Imagery. 5: NRCS. 6: NRCS 

maps. 7: NRCS. 8-9: NRCS illustration by Catherine Bailey. 9: NRCS. 10: Kaitlyn 

Yoder. 11: NRCS. 12: NRCS. 13: NRCS. 14: NRCS. 15: NRCS. 16: NRCS. 17: NRCS. 18: 

NRCS, Laura Jackson and Bob Hartmann. Inside Back Cover: NRCS.

Photo Credits
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

nrcs.usda.gov/wildlife

@USDA_NRCS