Your “Treequently” Asked Questions, Answered

Birds face many challenges — collisions with windows, pesticidas, y especies introducidas, to name only a few — but habitat loss and degradation stand out as the biggest threats by far. While birds are found in every major habitat type around the world, forests of all kinds, from tropical rainforests to temperate y boreal forests, support more than 75 percent of all bird species.

By some estimates, we lose as many as 25 million acres (10 million hectares) of forest annually around the globe (a little less than the area of the state of Virginia!) Forests are cleared to make way for agriculture and cattle grazing, unsustainably logged, and felled for development.

Sometimes the issue isn’t the lack of trees, but the quality of the remaining forest. The trees may lack the diversity of ages and species preferred and even required by some birds. Human intervention can interrupt naturally occurring periodic fires and floods, which can be beneficial for forests under some circumstances because they create dynamic habitats, with trees of different ages and species. To re-create the optimal conditions, forest managers sometimes have to do what most of us have been told not to do: cut down trees.

Harvesting timber as part of a sustainable forest management plan can improve habitat for birds and other wildlife. Bringing back habitat, specifically high-quality habitat, is our best hope for stabilizing bird populations and preventing extinctions. For more than three decades, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has focused our efforts on restoring and improving habitat and expanding habitat connectivity. Working with dozens of partners, as of November 2025, ABC has supported the planting of 8,117,219 trees across 29,838.41 acres throughout the Western Hemisphere to help bring back habitat that has been lost. This work also supports a growing forestry program to manage habitats to maximize what they can do for year-round species and migratory birds alike.

ABC’s program staff are here to answer some of our most “treequently” asked questions. This story is not exhaustive, but it uses the relevant experiences of ABC’s program staff to provide a snapshot of their work in forested habitats from Michigan to Peru.

Judi Brown is the Coordinator for Let the Sun Shine In Indiana, a program that works to restore oak-hickory forests, which have more open canopies and tend to support a greater diversity of plants and birdlife. While some of Let the Sun Shine In’s work involves using science-based tree harvests to improve existing forests, tree planting is also a major component.

“In southern Indiana, landowners are encouraged to plant trees along stream and creek edges, called ‘riparian areas,’” Brown says. “Landowners and farmers also plant trees in low-lying areas, where flooding damages the crops. Fertilizers are lost in floodwater and carried downstream, where they negatively impact the water quality. The floodwaters also carry soil, the largest water contaminant by volume. Planting trees in riparian and low-lying areas improves soil stability: the tree roots, combined with roots of native grasses, sedges, and other plants, hold the soil in place and keep it out of the waterway. They also trap nitrogen and other contaminants, preventing them from entering the water.”

In South America, tree planting helps to address the loss and degradation of habitat on the nonbreeding grounds of migratory species, which need high-quality habitat at both ends of their migratory journeys and at key points in between. As International Conservation Project Officer, Annie Hawkinson, shares, “We support tree-planting for shade coffee, silvipasture (integrating trees and grazing for cattle), living fences, and to restore degraded land in our Colán-Alto Mayo BirdScape in Peru. This work is funded by the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) and thus far has helped plant 1,605,786 trees over 2,729 acres.”

The reforestation in Peru benefits many migratory species, including the Reinita cerúlea, Reinita de Canadá, Reinita de Blackburn, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Zorzal de Swainson, Vireo de ojos rojos, Summer Tanager, y Picogrueso pechirrosado. Some of these species can be found in the breeding months or during migration in the forests in Indiana, where Let the Sun Shine In’s work takes place. The added forest cover in Peru also helps endemic species such as the Vulnerable Búho bigotudo and the Near Threatened Maravillosa cola de espátula.

ABC has deep partnerships, and often, on-the-ground partners choose where to plant. Conservation is collaborative and can involve government agencies, nonprofit groups, volunteer networks, private and public landowners, and others. In Peru, ABC partner Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos (ECOAN) has helped Indigenous communities in coordinating the planting of native Polylepis trees in formerly forested areas or areas that have experienced overgrazing from cattle.

The types of trees planted also depend on the needs of the local communities, from firewood to agroforestry. ABC has supported the planting of 402,862 native trees and 463,524 coffee, 82,497 cacao, and 195,707 other plants used as crops that support local communities, as well as 327,403 trees for silvipasture, 521,193 trees for living fences that delineate property lines and join forest patches, and 346,484 trees for fuelwood plantations. These fuelwood plantations help ensure that trees in protected areas are safe from incursions.

This answer depends on where in the world ABC is working, what the existing habitat is like, and what bird species are of conservation concern.

In Indiana, the oak-hickory forests that once dominated the landscape are now in decline, to the detriment of the birds that rely on them. Let the Sun Shine In focuses on what Brown calls “trees that don’t mind getting their ‘feet’ wet — Swamp White Oak, Burr Oak, Scarlet Oak, Bald Cypress, Pin Oak, Green Ash, among others.” These species create a buffet of caterpillars for birds from the Northern Cardinal to the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. “Oak species are also underplanted in forest stands to encourage oak regeneration into the proper forest ecosystems,” says Brown.

In Peru, much of the work focuses on reforesting native Polylepis trees, members of the rose family and the highest-growing flowering trees found anywhere on Earth. They can grow at elevations as high as 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level. Once abundant, Polylepis trees cover only about 3 percent of their former range. Overgrazing by cattle, burning to clear land, and firewood harvesting have taken a toll on these spectacular trees that have moss-covered branches and twisted trunks. Reforesting with Polylepis trees is important for the Critically Endangered Royal Cinclodes and many other endemic species.

As Brown says, “Native species are adapted to live on the soils in the area and need to receive the correct amount of sunshine and rainfall. Wildlife depend on the native species for their food and shelter. Non-native plants do not provide the correct food for wildlife, and they can crowd out the native plant species, damage the soil, and reduce the native wildlife populations in the area.”

While native plants are the way to go a majority of the time, especially when it comes to our own backyard gardens, there are times when non-native species fit the bill. Certain fruit trees, coffee, cacao, and other crops for agroforestry systems can often be integrated with native plants to improve habitat for birds. Bird-friendly approaches can simultaneously support local communities by providing sources of income while improving the land. ABC has supported the planting of 4,036,355 native trees throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Tree plantings can be major community events! In Peru, ABC partner ECOAN manages reforestation efforts in many departments. With more than 20 years of experience, ECOAN staff are experts not only in constructing nurseries and propagating trees but also in cultivating good relationships and engaging local community members, who take part in plantings as volunteers and hired workers.

“Fruiting trees are given to community members as incentives for participating. This increases the number of trees around the communities and towns where reforestation is taking place while also providing people with a free, sustainable food source,” says Hawkinson. “Communities also benefit from reforestation because trees are essential in erosion control and watershed protection, and function as a shield to crops from inclement weather. These trees improve soil quality and nutrition.”

When tree planting takes place on private lands as part of Let the Sun Shine In’s work in Indiana, Brown encourages landowners to work with their local foresters. “Landowners hire consultants to plant the trees, or they plant them themselves. In large plantations, they rely on the weather conditions. If pruning is needed, the landowners handle it.”

“To keep it simple, we operate on the notion that we want the right trees growing on the right site,” says Tommy Gunn, Oak Ecosystems Forester with ABC, who works throughout the Midwest but concentrates specifically on southeastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.

The forests in the Empresa conjunta de los Montes Apalaches (AMJV) region are largely uniform, with trees of roughly the same size and age. “Historically, the landscape would have been a mosaic of habitats maintained via the intentional management by Indigenous Peoples or natural disturbances,” says Liz Brewer, AMJV Outreach Coordinator. “This mosaic landscape supported a variety of birds and wildlife that need different forest types at different points in their life cycle, like the Golden-winged Warbler.”

Homogenous forests now grow where diverse forests once stood, a legacy of past unsustainable logging and the suppression of disturbances like fires and floods. As Austin Klais, Conservation Delivery Coordinator for the Empresa conjunta del valle bajo del Misisipi (LMVJV) and West Gulf Coastal Plain/Ouachitas (WGCPO) region, notes, “Our region has more trees growing every year than are being harvested. Now, local forestland is often unnaturally dense, leading to declines in local priority bird habitat.”

In the oak forests of the Midwest, “the lack of ‘baby’ and ‘teenage’ oak trees will have impacts on wildlife if not addressed. The mature trees may be oak-dominated,” says Gunn, but what’s underneath them in the dense shade is not. Instead of younger oak trees, tree and shrub species that thrive in shade, typically having less value for wildlife, have grown. Historically, natural fire events would have cleared them out and made way for young oaks. “Oaks and fire coevolved together. The fire has been removed from the landscape for so long, and we are doing what we can to make up for it.”

To have a diverse mosaic of forests across Wisconsin, one-quarter of the state forestlands need to be in a young successional stage, says Jayme Strange, Northern Forests Conservation Delivery Network Coordinator. Strange coordinates partnerships, research initiatives, and on-the-ground efforts to leverage resources for landscape-scale programs that support the strategies of the Upper Mississippi Great Lakes Joint Venture (UMGLJV).

“Young forest is important to a wide range of wildlife, including a multitude of migratory and resident bird species. The dense cover in these forests provides protection for nesting, feeding, and brood rearing, and young vegetation offers seeds, berries, and nuts and attracts insects.” Maintaining forests in that stage can’t always happen on its own, Strange says. ”In some cases, the only way to restore a young successional forest is to cut some trees.”

“It’s all a balancing act. We need to both cut and plant trees to consider forest management holistically,” says Michael Paling, ABC’s Michigan Forester. Paling works with private landowners to manage their property for Golden-winged and Kirtland’s Warblers. “If we cut down a forest of aspen trees, we can have tens of thousands of new aspen stems growing back. This dense, thick forest is perfect for birds like the Golden-winged Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and many more species.”

“Planting trees and cutting trees are not antithetical,” says Brewer. “They are both important tools that can help improve habitat for the birds we’re working to conserve.”

Forest management plans change from place to place, but removing non-native and invasive species is often the first step. Science guides management plans, but at the end of the day, in sustainable forest management, “the trees themselves make the decision,” as Paling puts it. “Foresters look at stocking levels (density) of trees in the forest (among the overstory, midstory, and understory). We look at plant species diversity, soil conditions, forest health issues, and invasive species.”

What gets cut depends on the objectives, site conditions, and resource concerns being addressed on site, says Klais. Public and private landowners look to foresters, biologists, loggers, conservationists, and silviculturists to help guide their forest management plans and meet their goals for the land. Local and federal regulations also play a role in the timing of a cut, and the number and types of trees that will be removed.

Trees harvested under a sustainable forestry plan typically have a second life, either in situ or by becoming timber, firewood, or valuable products from the paper fiber found in diapers to whiskey barrels.

“Some trees are left to become habitat features and will eventually contribute to the slow process of building the soil in the forest,” Gunn says. A dead tree can be left standing, providing nesting habitat for woodpeckers. When the tree eventually falls over, turtles or salamanders might move in. “As the years go by, natural decay processes break the tree down until it becomes part of the forest floor.” Parts of trees are sometimes left behind to provide shelter for wildlife and a buffer from browsing deer.

Some trees live on in a different way: “Aspen trees will grow back from root suckers and you can grow a forest that’s 100 percent genetically similar. Oaks, spruces, pines, and many other trees will grow back from seeds they’ve dropped on the forest floor but haven’t had enough sunlight to sprout until the older trees are harvested,” Paling says.

In the presence of unhealthy trees, trees that would have naturally been removed by fire or other processes but remain standing, or non-native trees with little benefit to wildlife, an area might need the clean slate produced by clearcutting. This, Paling notes, is “a scientifically proven silvicultural practice used for a specific objective, such as ‘coppice cutting’ in aspen or red maple stands where trees are removed specifically to stimulate stumps and roots to regenerate the forest, while still utilizing the timber. The forest becomes young again, but it’s still a forest, one that is beneficial for Ruffed Grouse, Golden-winged Warblers, and other wildlife.”

This technique is employed with the future health of the forest in mind. It provides a fresh start for healthy, native trees to grow. That is the fundamental difference between clearcutting and what it is commonly mistaken for: deforestation. Deforestation involves changing the land use of a forested area in its entirety. Trees may be burned or cut down, and stumps dug up to convert an area for use by people, often for agriculture or development.

ABC’s foresters will recommend giving a forest a fresh start when it is appropriate, says Gunn, who notes, “the majority of the forested landscapes across the eastern U.S. are older mature trees that do not have the patchwork of young regenerating forest interspersed with older forests that we would have with widespread natural processes such as fire.” Cutting trees can create that “patchwork” effect. “In Appalachia, part of a forest management plan might be a ‘patch cut’ near a more mature forest to restore that mosaic of habitat types that birds need throughout their life cycle,” Brewer with the AMJV adds.

If it aligns with the site’s conservation plan and the landowner’s objectives, a tree ABC has planted may be cut down, but that is not the norm. When a landowner seeks to generate revenue while managing their land for conservation, trees are sometimes planted at a rate that produces higher timber values and may grow large enough to require thinning, which would benefit the landowner, wildlife, and overall forest health. But, in general, it is unlikely that an ABC-planted tree will be cut down — at least not for a few decades. That could change, however, if the science warrants it: “Keep in mind, we base our recommendations on the best available science. Sometimes we learn new things that may change our management plans. Forests are complex systems, and we are doing our best to make them better,” says Gunn.

“I see a huge variety of local communities, landowners, and nonprofits working together on different timber harvests or forest management,” says Strange. “In general, everyone benefits in some way. In the northern states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, forest management is a large economy for local communities.”

Forest management is a huge industry, Paling says. “It includes private landowners, state natural resources departments, the U.S. Forest Service, local conservation districts, land conservancies, logging companies, timber investment management organizations (TIMO), nonprofits, and more, and they all interact.”

In an ideal scenario, timber harvesting can support other conservation work on the same land. Gunn explains: “A landowner may decide to harvest some trees based on their goals for the property and the recommendations of a forester. The sale of trees generates revenue for the landowner while contributing to the conservation goals of the property by funding noncommercial management such as ongoing invasive species control.” Along the way, those trees are part of a local economy involving foresters, loggers, truck drivers, employees at the sawmill, invasive species contractors, as well as funds spent in the community.

There are positive outcomes that go far beyond the revenue generated and the habitat maintained through timber harvesting.

“In Appalachia, much of our work is with private landowners who are active in providing input on the forest management happening on their land,” Brewer says. “There is also increasing interest in the region in forest farming, growing native edible plants and mushrooms in the forests, many of which benefit from the sustainable forestry practices our partners use. A healthy forest can provide recreation opportunities, forest farming and foraging opportunities, improved watershed health, and habitat to support wildlife and birds.”

“Silviculture is the overall ‘art and science’ of forest management,” says Paling. It encompasses all management techniques, such as timber harvesting, tree planting, thinning stands of trees, and more, and it often takes a combination of them to manage a forest well. Strange says, “Using multiple timber harvesting or forest management techniques is the best way to achieve a healthy forest system that provides breeding, protection, and foraging for birds. A mosaic of age classes across the landscape provides healthy habitat for local wildlife.”

The techniques employed for managing tree density and habitat conditions depend on the forest and the goals of landowners and conservationists for the property and fall under three categories: mechanical (commercial, mulching, chainsaws), chemical (in certain circumstances, herbicides may be used broadly or selectively and matched to the need on the landscape), or prescribed fire. Foresters also manage forests for invasive species and maintain forest health by adjusting species composition, the structure of a forest stand, and the number of trees by removing trees.

“Forest management today is nothing like it was 100-plus years ago,” Paling says. “During the 1800s, everything was clearcut regardless of the forest type.” That approach has made a long-lasting impression on the public.

“Over-harvesting has led to the perception that it’s better to not manage forests at all, and the misconception that forests were ‘untouched’ before European settlers arrived — but that’s not true! Forests were managed by Indigenous People in North America long before settlers arrived,” says Brewer.

Timber harvesting has changed from the days when land was permanently cleared. “Now, every decision starts with the forest type, which dictates what kind of harvesting can occur,” Paling continues. As in any industry, Gunn says, there are bad actors and good actors, but forestry has evolved. It is much less extractive and far more holistic. By and large, foresters are concerned with the health of the forests in their care and the role a healthy forest plays in supporting entire ecosystems.

“If we are sick, we go to the doctor. When our forests need help, we employ foresters,” says Gunn.

Today, many foresters keep conservation in mind in their work. The Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) conservation certification is “an outstanding model,” says Bartush. Companies like Papel internacional, a partner in ABC’s work to conserve habitat for Swallow-tailed Kites in the southeastern U.S., that use SFI-certified timber, are helping to initiate a sea change among landowners. “Those who align with the SFI conservation plans are managing forests very well,” Bartush continues.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is paramount in how we approach land management, Strange says. TEK can inform, guide, and complement the work of foresters. In the Great Lakes region, Strange notes, “We lean heavily on the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) to provide natural resource management expertise that follows TEK.” Bartush shares that the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas has a long history steeped in the Longleaf Pine forests and prescribed fire. Indigenous Peoples can hold irreplaceable knowledge about the land they inhabit and how to live on it, but those long-standing practices, like prescribed fire, have been deliberately suppressed.

Limiting forest fires helped prevent the destruction of homes, businesses, and property as more areas became more inhabited, but the loss of fire came with drawbacks. “We’re starting to realize the negative impacts of removing fire from the landscape, and there are efforts in Michigan to encourage more use of prescribed fire,” Paling says.

Not all donations result in tree plantings. ABC often runs specific campaigns to support tree planting. If you have ever donated to a “Plant a Tree, Conserve an Acre” campaign or a similar campaign, your gift has directly helped put a tree (or trees) in the ground.

ABC Memberships support all of the work we do across the organization. While money from Memberships does not directly go to planting trees, it does allow us to do a good deal of the work associated with the tree program. Membership dollars are part of ABC’s general operating fund, used to cover day-to-day operating expenses, which include supporting the staff working to get conservation results for birds. Consider joining ABC today!

As ABC’s team has shown, forests are diverse, and the approaches for managing them are, too. Foresters have a suite of techniques at their disposal — some newly developed and driven by advances in science, others time-honored practices from Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded the land — for improving forest health. Forestry has come a long way from the days of indiscriminate clearcutting. Today’s foresters are conservationists, Brewer says. “We love forests and we want to have healthy, sustainable forests for years to come!”

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to managing forests. Maintaining or improving a forest doesn’t have to mean closing it off from human use entirely. Bartush says that foresters can “provide land managers choices to continue to develop working forestlands for income — as well as promote habitat for many wildlife species.”

From planting trees to cutting patches so young trees can thrive, ABC’s work with forests always keeps the needs of birds and people in mind. Making more space for birds by creating, connecting, and improving habitat is one of the most powerful tools at our disposal for reversing species declines and protecting vulnerable species.