Conservation Forestry

The New England Cottontail: Investigating a Market-Based Approach to Habitat Management

Background & Summary
The New England cottontail (NEC) rabbit is the only native cottontail in New England and the only cottontail found in Maine. It was once abundant throughout many northeastern states; however, during the mid-20th century, its distribution declined dramatically. In Maine, the NEC is currently found only in York and Cumberland counties, occupying roughly 17% of its historic state range.
Research points to the loss or fragmentation of large patches (>10 acres) of early-successional habitat (thickets and shrubs with a dense understory) that the NEC utilizes as reasons for its decline. Download a brochure about the New England cottontail.

We Want to Hear From You!

Habitat Credits: The feasibility of a habitat credit system is being explored as a means to facilitate NEC recovery efforts. A habitat credit system is a market-based approach that would compensate landowners who protect and enhance the habitat of the NEC. To determine if a habitat credit system would work, we need to find out what management strategies will appeal to landowners and also benefit the NEC.

Conservation Forestry Awareness Sign

If you have created, or plan to create, early-sucessional habitat to benefit the NEC, you may be eligible to receive a conservation forestry awareness sign. Download an application.

Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances

Landowners managing for declining species should not be penalized for their good deeds. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) has a program under which participating landowners who commit to taking steps to help candidate species such as the NEC now can be assured that if the species is federally listed, they will face no new management requirements. Follow the links below to learn more about these agreements, Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA).
CCAAs for Non-Federal Landowners: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/listing/ccaa.pdf
Candidate Conservation Program: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/candidates/index.html

Cost-Share and Technical Assistance

If you are interested in creating habitat for the NEC, a number of programs exist that could provide technical and financial assistance for your efforts:

Maine’s Landowner Incentive Program (LIP): Focuses on landowners managing their lands for rare plant and animal habitats. http://www.mainenaturalareas.org/docs/lip/

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Provides assistance to agricultural producers (includes private, non-industrial forestland) to implement conservation practices. http://www.me.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP07.html

Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program: Partnership opportunities for private landowners who are willing to work to help meet the habitat needs of migratory birds, inter-jurisdictional fish, federally-listed endangered, threatened or other declining or imperiled species. http://www.fws.gov/northeast/partners/

Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP): Assistance for landowners for developing, improving or managing wildlife habitat or for restoring natural ecosystems on eligible land. The program places primary emphasis on enhancing habitat for fish and wildlife species experiencing declines or those with significantly reduced populations. http://www.me.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/WHIP.html