SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced Thursday that they are downlisting the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. The FWS said that this milestone is the result of five decades of collaborative conservation efforts between the Interior Department, federal and state partners, Tribes, the private sector and private landowners that have resulted in increasing populations of these birds throughout their range. "The downlisting of the red-cockaded woodpecker marks a significant milestone in our nation's commitment to preserving biodiversity,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Through decades of collaborative efforts from a wide coalition of partners, we have brought this iconic species back from the brink of extinction, ensuring that future generations will continue to see these incredible birds thriving in their natural habitats. This is another important accomplishment in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s implementation of the iconic Endangered Species Act.” The red-cockaded woodpecker was listed as an endangered species in 1973. While the red-cockaded woodpecker’s status has improved since they are now no longer endangered, the species has not fully recovered. The red-cockaded woodpecker remains a threatened species, at risk of becoming endangered again due to habitat loss, random events like hurricanes, ice storms and wildfires. They also have to face the challenges posed by their small population sizes. Why the US FWS proposed expansion of Okefenokee, what it would mean if approved The Service said they will continue working to help the red-cockaded woodpecker thrive and advance toward a full recovery. FWS said that the red-cockaded woodpecker has benefited from active conservation efforts from partners and private landowners. They gave an example, state-wide Safe Harbor Agreements have enrolled 459 non-federal landowners covering approximately 2.5 million acres, resulting in an increase in red-cockaded clusters on private lands over the past three decades. “Decades of committed recovery work and collaboration drove this remarkable story of recovery. The Service worked closely with the Departments of Agriculture and Defense, private landowners, Tribes, state agencies, businesses, utilities and conservation groups to reach today’s announcement,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “The improved status of the red-cockaded woodpecker shows that when we give species a chance, they can thrive. The Endangered Species Act can serve as a catalyst for collaborative efforts like this one to promote recovery and conserve habitats.” The red-cockaded woodpecker is a territorial, non-migratory bird species that lives in mature pine forests in the southeastern United States. The red-cockaded woodpecker’s range dwindled to a few states by the 1960s, following more than a century of habitat loss, FWS said. In the late 1970s, populations were at an all-time low of an estimated 1,470 clusters of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Thursday, the Service said they estimated that there are 7,800 clusters ranging across 11 states from southern Virginia to eastern Texas. You can find these small woodpeckers in Georgia, South Carolina and surrounding states. The Service said that they have also finalized a 4(d) rule to provide for the conservation of the species. The 4(d) rule continues the same prohibitions for red-cockaded woodpeckers as an endangered species, includes exceptions for routine law enforcement activities and habitat management and provides species-specific exceptions for beneficial management practices. The prohibitions apply throughout the species’ range, on both public and private lands. Over the past four decades, these prohibitions have provided a framework for protecting red-cockaded woodpeckers and the habitat resources upon which they depend. The Service utilizes conservation benefit agreements as a tool that allows landowners to manage their land with minimal regulatory oversight while guaranteeing a baseline population of woodpeckers. These agreements encourage activities like prescribed fire to restore longleaf pine forests with healthy understories of grasses and a mix of old and young trees needed for the woodpecker’s survival.  More information on this final downlisting and 4(d) rule are found in the Service’s frequently asked questions webpage. The final rule will publish in the Federal Register on Oct. 25, 2024. Supporting documents are available at regulations.gov by searching under docket number FWS–R4–ES–2019–0018. (Photo by Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)