North Carolina Early 

Succession Bird Habitat SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), North Carolina 

Wildlife Resources Commission, U.S. Department of 

Interior Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Quail Forever 

are partners in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife 

Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 

fourteen counties in the coastal plain of North Carolina. 

The purpose of the North Carolina Early Succession Bird 

Habitat SAFE is to develop 2,500 acres of native early 

successional habitat to benefit several bird species identified 

by the state as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need 

(SGCN). Restoration of habitats will occur in North Carolina’s 

coastal plain, which has been targeted as an area for early 

succession bird conservation efforts.

Background

SAFE is part of the USDA Conservation Reserve Program 

(CRP). CRP is a federally funded voluntary program that 

contracts with landowners and agricultural producers to 

establish and manage permanent vegetative covers that 

control soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide 

wildlife habitat. 

SAFE is a unique type of CRP that offers organizations 

the opportunity to partner with the USDA to establish 

habitat for high-priority wildlife species on agricultural 

land. SAFE sponsors work with the USDA to identify the 

wildlife species, the vegetative cover that provides habitat 

for the target species, and the location in the state where 

the habitat is needed. Through this partnership between 

the SAFE sponsors and the USDA, federal funds are made 

available for enrollment of this continuous CRP practice on 

eligible land within the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the North Carolina Early Succession Bird 

Habitat SAFE project is to provide habitat for Northern 

Bobwhite Quail, Loggerhead Shrikes, Grasshopper 

Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks and Field Sparrows. 

These bird species are considered species of greatest 

conservation need in the NC Wildlife Action Plan. Each 

of these species has experienced a significant population 

decline not only in North Carolina but across their native 

range. Habitat loss and degradation due to changing land 

use is the primary reason for the population decline. Many 

other species of wildlife and beneficial insects will benefit 

from the enhancement of early succession habitat.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

North Carolina Early Succession Bird Habitat SAFE are 

required to develop a conservation plan with assistance from 

the Natural Resources Conservation Service or a technical 

service provider. The conservation plan will provide details 

on how to plant, establish, and manage habitat for Northern 

Bobwhite Quail, Loggerhead Shrikes, Grasshopper Sparrows, 

Eastern Meadowlarks and Field Sparrows. The habitat 

being established is native early succession vegetation. 

Native bunch grasses will provide nesting locations for 

ground nesting species. Forbs and legumes will increase 

seed production while also increasing insect quantity and 

diversity in these fields. After the habitat is established, it will 

need to be maintained and managed by prescribed burning, 

rotational disking and selective herbicide applications to 

enhance herbaceous plant communities. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for quail, shrikes, sparrows and meadowlarks.

JULY 2023 NORTH CAROLINA
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The North Carolina Early Succession Bird Habitat SAFE 

project location targets cropland in Bertie, Bladen, 

Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, 

Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Sampson, Wayne and 

Wilson counties in the coastal plain of North Carolina.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38E-4D, Permanent Wildlife Habitat

 CP38E-12, Wildlife Food Plots.

Haying and Grazing

Enrolled acres shall not be harvested or grazed by domestic 

livestock for the life of the CRP-1. Any type of haying and/or 

grazing is prohibited.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/nc

Photo by John Isenhour, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Eligibility Requirements

Because SAFE is part of CRP, certain land and participant 

eligibility rules apply. To begin with, land must be in the 

project area and meet cropping history. CRP participant 

eligibility rules also apply to SAFE.

Payments and Incentives

In exchange for participation in CRP SAFE, the Farm 

Service Agency (FSA) provides participants with annual 

per acre rental payments, cost-share to assist with habitat 

establishment expenses, and in some cases additional 

monetary incentives.

For More Information

This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only; 

other restrictions or requirements may apply. Consult your 

local FSA office for details. For more information, contact 

your local service center and USDA Farm Service Agency 

office: farmers.gov/service-locator.
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. fsa.usda.gov/nc

North Carolina Early Succession Bird Habitat SAFE Project Map

JULY 2023