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Endangered Species

Definition: A species at risk of extinction because of human activity, changes in climate, changes in predator-prey ratios, etc.

The forests of South Carolina provide habitat to a great variety of plants and animals. The future existence of certain endangered species depends on the continued availability of appropriate forest habitat. The South Carolina forestry community supports protection of species determined by legitimate scientific standards to be endangered. These protection measures must be balanced with competing social and economic values.

An example of an endangered species is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW). The bird has been in a long-term decline throughout its range in the Southeastern states and particularly on privately-owned land. Encouraging voluntary, beneficial action by private landowners is expected to help slow the decline by maintaining contiguity of its habitat and buffering against possible major storms or other catastrophes destroying populations on public lands.

The first Statewide Safe Harbor Agreement in the nation was signed on March 26, 1998 at Westvaco's Bonneau Ferry Conference Center in South Carolina.

The voluntary Safe Harbor Agreement is designed to encourage private landowners to undertake management actions that will benefit an endangered species. The program has removed the regulatory impediment that has caused some landowners to fear that if they attract an endangered species to their property, their use of that property could be restricted in the future.