Iowa Northeast 

Forest Bird SAFE

State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)

Overview

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Iowa 

Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau are 

partners in implementing a State Acres for Wildlife 

Enhancement (SAFE) project to enroll agricultural land in 

six counties in north-east Iowa. The purpose of the Iowa 

Northeast Forest Bird SAFE is to develop high-density, 

hardwood tree plantings to provide early successional 

forest habitat, create corridors between larger blocks 

of forest, and minimize forest fragmentation for early 

successional forest birds.

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 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. A partnership is formed between the 

SAFE sponsor and the USDA, and federal funds are made 

available to allow for CRP enrollment on eligible land within 

the SAFE project location.

Target Wildlife Species

The goal of the Iowa Northeast Forest Bird SAFE project is 

to provide habitat for Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, 

Yellow-billed, and Black-billed Cuckoo. These species are 

important to Iowa because all four species are in long term 

decline and CRP provides valuable habitat to recover these 

species. The Iowa Wildlife Action Plan lists all four birds as 

species of greatest conservation need, whose populations 

can benefit from additional early successional forest and 

grassland habitats.

Habitat

Landowners and agricultural producers participating in 

Iowa Northeast Forest Bird SAFE are required to develop a 

conservation plan with assistance from the USDA Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or a technical 

service provider. The conservation plan will provide details 

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

Grouse, American Woodcock, Yellow-billed, and Blackbilled Cuckoo. Offers must be a minimum of 5 acres unless 

immediately adjacent to an existing woodland. Offers must 

be established to at least 90% trees and/or shrubs at a 

minimum of 1,000 trees/shrubs per acre. Plantings should 

consist of at least 5 hardwood species (predominately oak). 

Plantings may also include aspen and conifers if appropriate. 

Native grass and forb plantings may be developed in areas 

adjacent to cropland. After the habitat is established, it will 

need to be maintained and managed by activities included 

in the forest conservation management plan. Proper habitat 

establishment, maintenance, and management will maximize 

benefits for Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Yellowbilled, and Black-billed Cuckoo.

MARCH 2023 IOWA

Photo by Iowa Department of Nautral Resources
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE) 2

Project Location

The Iowa Northeast Forest Bird SAFE project location 

is Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, Fayette, Jackson, and 

Winneshiek counties.

Eligible CRP Practices

This SAFE project uses the following CRP practices:

 CP38C-3A SAFE Tree Planting

 CP38E-4D SAFE Permanent Wildlife Habitat

Haying and Grazing

Emergency and non-emergency haying and grazing are not 

authorized.

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 or nearest DNR office: 

iowadnr.gov/crp.

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

Photo by Iowa Department of Nautral Resources
STATE ACRES FOR WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT (SAFE)

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

Iowa Northeast Forest Bird SAFE Project Map

MARCH 2023