Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a decision to downlist the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"The decision to downlist the red-cockaded woodpecker is a direct result of active forest management and years of collaboration between state and private landowners to create healthy forests and habitat across the southeast. It's a rare success story and highlights the importance of continuing our efforts on legislation like the Fix Our Forests Act and the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act. These bills are the kind of commonsense solutions which lead to the results we're seeing today, and the kind of action House Republicans will prioritize in the future."

Background

Today, the USFWS announced the downlisting of the red-cockaded woodpecker from endangered to threatened status under the ESA. This decision is the result of decades of work from federal, state and private landowners to create healthy forest habitat. 

House Committee on Natural Resources Republicans have prioritized legislation to improve forest management across the country, such as the Fix Our Forests Act, which passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote last month. Creating healthy forest habitat is essential for the successful recovery of species like the red-cockaded woodpecker because they rely on forested areas for activities such as roosting and nesting. Therefore, any federal policies that benefit the health of our nation’s forests will benefit this iconic species and many others. The committee has also advanced the America's Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act , which will empower states to develop strategies for threatened species, like the red-cockaded woodpecker, as they work with public and private landowners to create healthy habitats for America's diverse wildlife.