Forests in the eastern United States have matured substantially over the past 50 years. Many wildlife species that depend on young forest habitats in the region, including the golden-winged warbler, have been on a long term decline. The golden-wing population in the Appalachians has declined 66 percent since the 1960?s. This shift toward older forest age classes has occurred as a result of fire suppression and forest management practices that do not support diverse forest habitats.

Much of the forestland in the eastern U.S. is privately owned. The NRCS and other groups, including WMI, have been working to sustain young forest habitat on these private lands. ?Much forest land in Appalachia is privately owned making private landowners pivotal to these birds? success,? NRCS Chief, Jason Weller said.

The report cites research in which scientists monitored golden-winged warbler response to targeted habitat management. They found that managed forestlands can provide enough habitat to support three pairs of golden-winged warblers per 50 acres. In addition, these lands provide habitat for more than 120 other bird species, a third of which are suffering from population declines.