Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society is included as a partner in a collaborative forest management project led by the National Wild Turkey Federation and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at the Pack Demonstration Forest in New York. The project centers on active timber harvesting designed to improve forest structure, increase biodiversity and create young forest conditions that benefit wildlife species that rely on early successional habitat.
Photo courtesy of Allison Brusa from NWTF
The work includes a 15-acre timber harvest that is part of a larger 128-acre demonstration area dominated by eastern hemlock, sugar maple, birch and white pine. After decades without active management, the recent harvest will help shift the forest toward a more diverse age structure while showcasing adaptive management practices for landowners, forestry professionals and students. Funding support came from the New York NWTF State Chapter, helping advance habitat-focused forestry and educational opportunities at the site.
Additional partners named in the project include SUNY ESF students and faculty, the Audubon Society, NYS Forest Rangers and local conservation organizations. The demonstration forest will also feature interpretive and educational access, allowing visitors to learn directly about forest management strategies and habitat outcomes through guided experiences on the property.
Photo courtesy of Allison Brusa from NWTF
This collaboration highlights the shared commitment among conservation partners to practical, science-based forest stewardship that supports wildlife and long-term forest health.
Explore more details about this collaboration: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/nwtf-suny-esf-promote-healthy-habitat-on-demonstration-forest
