Forests cover 19 million acres across the Mid-Atlantic region —from the mountaintops of the Allegheny Plateau and Kittatinny Ridge, our urban parks in Baltimore and Philadelphia, and the upland marshes of our coastal estuaries. These public and privately held forests are important bird habitats and tools for climate solutions. They are critical components of our region’s wood product economy and also serve as important points of entry for many of us to enjoy the outdoors.

Eastern woodlands occupy a majority of the land cover in the region. These forests constitute vast areas of habitat for migratory and resident birds and provide a host of ecosystem functions for humans and other wildlife. Forests across this region are not uniform in their ecological type, degree of healthiness, or stressors, and the current condition of our forests has been shaped by historic land-use, a changing climate, invasive species, and demand for forest products. We know that active, science-based management is needed to ensure the sustainability of healthy forests that support human communities and provide quality habitat for birds that rely on them. Audubon Mid-Atlantic advocates for a data-driven approach to healthy, bird-friendly forest management throughout the region, and for policy that supports these practices. 

To that end, Audubon Mid-Atlantic works with a diverse coalition of public and private partners to advocate for statewide healthy forest management techniques and standards for foresters that align forest bird habitat needs with productive, sustainable forestry. Well-managed woodlands that employ healthy harvest and management practices help to increase biodiversity, provide habitat for threatened species, and sequester more carbon than mismanaged or undermanaged forests. In addition to being more economically productive, the benefits of healthy forest management include:

• Habitat for birds and other wildlife
• Sustainable local timber, paper, and bio-energy industries
• Water storage and filtration
• Air quality
• Recreation and tourism
• Cultural enrichment
• Climate resiliency through carbon sequestration and storage

Forest Policy Priorities

• Incentivizing landowners and forest managers to develop and implement land management plans to ensure active management for overall forest health

• Promoting Bird Friendly best management practices that support migrating and resident bird species as well as other wildlife

• Ensuring public and private land managers have access to resources for management of invasive species
• Promoting a diversity of species in forests to transition away from monoculture species
• Advocating for fully funded natural resource agencies, allowing them to maintain and increase support and services
• Preventing forest fragmentation