WASHINGTON, DC—From the earthworm to the moose, animals on Forest Service lands interact with and may depend upon each other to survive and flourish. They fulfill integral roles in forests and grasslands by pollinating plants, distributing seeds, moving nutrients between the living and nonliving aspects of their environment and maintaining the natural balance of life. Our natural lands, in turn, shelter animals from increasingly degraded, disturbed and urbanized habitats.

Forest Service scientists and their partners conduct research promoting wildlife diversity and increasing their resilience to disturbances like drought, wildfire and hurricanes. For example, scientists concluded that organic coffee plantations in Puerto Rico host greater bird diversity than sites raising coffee with more conventional methods. Since birds eat pests off coffee plants, organic plantations can expect lessened crop damage and increased revenue. Agency scientists also track endangered freshwater mussels using trace amounts of waterborne DNA, a system that may help manage and conserve these species. And agency scientists take cues from beavers to restore western streams. By using beaver-inspired dams, ranchers can store water for their livestock during the hottest, driest months and improve the health of their pastures.

With tools and ideas like these, land managers and decision-makers can help protect, improve and restore fish and wildlife habitats while minimizing the lasting effects of disturbances.