Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) wildlife assessments quantify the effects of voluntary conservation efforts on select fish and wildlife species across the nation’s agricultural lands.
About Wildlife Assessments
Approximately two-thirds of the land in the lower 48 states is privately owned. Farms, ranches, and private forests across the nation provide critical habitat for wildlife, and many species have rebounded and recovered largely thanks to the voluntary conservation efforts of agricultural producers. Through CEAP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) collaborates with fish and wildlife management and science communities to strengthen voluntary conservation for a range of at-risk species.
CEAP wildlife assessments deliver site-specific monitoring to inform on-the-ground conservation improvements and generate science support and tools for more effective delivery of conservation actions that benefit priority fish and wildlife species and communities. Details on the methods for wildlife assessments are available on the CEAP Frequently Asked Questions page.
Wildlife Publications
Reports, Articles, and Bibliographies
Reports, Articles, and Bibliographies
The below publications provide data and associated insights on the effects of voluntary conservation on wildlife. Categories include reports and articles and bibliographies. Within each category publications are organized in descending order by date.
Reports and Articles
- A Map Package and Framework to Inform Multi-objective Management of Dry Conifer Forests along the Colorado Front Range, 2022 (2.4 MB)
- Agent-based Modeling of Movements and Habitat Selection by Mid-continent Mallards, 2022
- Assessing Eastern Whip-poor-will and Monarch Butterfly Responses to NRCS Conservation Programs Targeting Early-successional Habitats in the Eastern Forests, 2022 (2.6 MB)
- Assessing Wildlife Response to NRCS Conservation Programs Targeting Eastern Deciduous Forests: 2017-2021, 2022 (0.8 MB)
- Avian Use of Wetland Reserve Easement Program Sites in Missouri, 2022 (3.6 MB)
- New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse Project Report for 2018-2021, 2022 (2.9 MB)
- A Decade of Science Support in the Sagebrush Biome, 2021
- Best Management Practices for Pollinator Habitat in the Southeast U.S. , 2021 (3.2 MB)
- Grazing Management and Prescribed Fire for Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens, 2021 (12.7 MB)
- Optimization Model for Forest and Shrubland Birds, 2021 (2.4 MB)
- Reversing Tree Expansion in Sagebrush Steppe Yields Population-level Benefit for Imperiled Grouse, 2021, Ecosphere
- An Evaluation of Bird Conservation and Ecosystem Services on Northeastern Farms, 2020 (0.8 MB)
- Influence of Human Policies on Lesser Prairie-chicken Ecology in a Fragmented Landscape, 2020 (3.2 MB)
- Thermal Ecology and Multi-scale Nest Site Selection of the Scaled Quail, 2020 (1.5 MB)
- Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides, 2020
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo (0.7 MB)
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (4.1 MB)
- Northern Mexican Gartersnake (2.0 MB)
- Arizona Bell's Vireo (1.2 MB)
- A New Tool for Evaluating Outcomes of New England Cottontail Conservation Efforts, 2019 (2.3 MB)
- Assessing Wildlife Response to NRCS Conservation Programs Targeting Eastern Deciduous Forests: 2019 Annual Report, 2019 (3.8 MB)
- Effects of Working Grassland Management on Lesser Prairie-Chicken Resource Selection Within Home Ranges and During Dispersal Events, 2019 (2.9 MB)
- Habitat Ecology of Native Pollinators and Imperiled Migratory Songbirds within Early-successional Deciduous Forests, 2019 (1.9 MB)
- Southwestern Willow Flycatchers: Habitat Features and Effects of Livestock Grazing on their Habitat, 2019 (0.2 MB)
- University of New Hampshire Final Report on Northeastern Turtles, 2019 (0.5 MB)
- Assessing Avian Response to NRCS Conservation Programs Targeting Early-successional Habitats in the Appalachian Mountains and Western Great Lakes Regions, 2018 (4.6 MB)
- Habitat Evaluation and Monitoring of Working Lands for Wildlife: Assessment of Habitats Managed for New England Cottontails, 2018 (9.5 MB)
- Habitat selection, movements, and home range of bog turtles in southeastern PA and investigation of grazing as a management tool, 2018 (2.1 MB)
- New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse Project Report for 2015-2017, 2018 (4.3 MB)
- Site-Specific and Landscape Features Associated with Shrubland Bird Occurrence in Anthropogenic Shrublands in the Northeastern United States, 2018 (0.8 MB)
- Wildlife Use of Livestock Troughs and Wildlife Escape Structure Study, 2018 (0.7 MB)
- Winter Ecology of Radiomarked Female Mallards in Mississippi’s Alluvial Valley, 2018 (1.5 MB)
- Assessing Wildlife Response to NRCS Conservation Programs Targeting Early Succession Habitats - 2016 Annual Report, 2017 (2.8 MB)
- Estimates of Waste Rice, Natural Seeds, and Wetland Birds in Gulf Coast Prairie Ricelands During Fall–Winter, 2017 (2.9 MB)
- Evaluating CRP-SAFE for Wildlife in Idaho, 2017 (0.7 MB)
- Identifying Key Habitat Features for Managing Breeding Southwestern Willow Flycatchers, 2017 (0.8 MB)
- Lesser Prairie-Chicken Avoidance of Trees in a Grassland Landscape, 2017, Rangeland Ecology and Management
- Vegetation Characteristics and Lesser Prairie-Chicken Responses to Land Cover Types and Grazing Management in Western Kansas, 2017 (2.7 MB)
- Conservation Practices Benefit Golden-winged Warblers in Appalachia, 2016 (4.0 MB)
- Developing Guidelines For Promoting Pollinator Services And Shrubland Birds In The Northeast, 2016 (0.7 MB)
- Effects of Haying on Breeding Birds in CRP Grasslands, 2016 (2.0 MB)
- Fall Migrant Waterbird Community Structure and Stable Isotope Ecology in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley and Northern Gulf of Mexico: Use of Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative Sites and Other Wetlands, 2016 (9.1 MB)
- Habitat Monitoring and Evaluation of Working Lands for Wildlife: New England Cottontails, 2016 (1.8 MB)
- Methods for Determining Biodiversity Metrics, Focal Species, and Conservation Practices for Multi-scale Analysis in Support of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project, 2016 (2.8 MB)
- Quantifying the Potential Water Quality Benefits of Agricultural Conservation Practices for Stream Conservation in the Western Lake Erie Basin, 2016 (12.9 MB)
- Sage Grouse Initiative Final Report, 2016 (0.8 MB)
- An Assessment of Landscape Carrying Capacity for Waterfowl and Shorebirds in Nebraska's Rainwater Basin, 2015 (1.4 MB)
- Monitoring and Evaluating Golden-winged Warbler Use of Breeding Habitat Created by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Practices, 2015 (3.6 MB)
- USDA Programs Help Meet Migrating Water-fowl and Shorebird Feed Energy Needs on Rainwater Basin Wetlands in Nebraska, 2015 (2.7 MB)
- Application of Ground-truth for Classification and Quantification of Bird Movements on Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative Sites in Southwest Louisiana, 2014 (3.4 MB)
- Evaluating Sage-Grouse and Habitat Responses to Sage-Grouse Friendly Livestock Grazing Strategies, 2014 (2.7 MB)
- Regional Assessment of the Relationships of Conservation Practices to Northern Bobwhite and Other Priority Grassland Bird Breeding Populations, 2014 (1.6 MB)
- Assessing the Effects of Conservation Practices on Priority Birds throughout the Intermountain West, 2013 (6.4 MB)
- Assessment of Bird Response to the NRCS Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative using Weather Surveillance Radar: Final Report, 2013 (1.5 MB)
- Evaluation of Farm Bill Programs to benefit Lesser Prairie-Chicken, 2013 (0.7 MB)
- Great Lakes Phase 2 Final Report: Assessing the Costs and Benefits of Conservation Practices to Restoring Biological Integrity in Agricultural Watersheds, 2013 (3.8 MB)
- Great Lakes Phase 1 Final Report: Assessing Benefits of Conservation Practices to the Biological Integrity of Agricultural Streams in Michigan and Wisconsin, 2012 (6.7 MB)
- Regional Assessment of the Effects of Conservation Practices on Priority Birds in the Shortgrass Prairie Bird Conservation Region, 2012 (0.7 MB)
- Remediating Effects of Human Threats on Lotic Fish Assemblages Within the Missouri River Basin: How Effective are Conservation Practices?, 2012 (7.3 MB)
- Establishing the Geomorphic Context for Wetland and Riverine Restoration of the San Rafael River, 2011 (7.6 MB)
- Evaluating Biological Effects of Dam Removals in Pennsylvania, 2011 (0.2 MB)
- Evaluating the Potential of the Conservation Reserve Program to Offset Projected Impacts of Climate Change on the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, 2011 (4.7 MB)
- Amphibians as Wetland Restoration Indicators on Wetlands Reserve Program Sites in Lower Grand River Basin, Missouri, 2010 (3.1 MB)
- An Assessment of Wintering Waterfowl Use of Wetland Reserve Program Restored Wetlands in California Using NEXRAD Weather Radar, 2010 (3.4 MB)
- Bird Response to Conservation Reserve Program Land and Landscape Attributes in Maryland and Delaware, 2010 (0.2 MB)
- Effects of Historic and Current Land Covers on Water Budget and Water Quality in Agricultural Regions of Michigan and Wisconsin, 2010
- SWAT Model Report 070900 (Rock River) (1.3 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 070700 (Wisconsin River) (1.5 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 040900 (Detroit Basin) (1.2 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 040802 (Saginaw Bay) (1.9 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 040801 (Lake Huron) (1.5 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 040500 (Grand Basin) (2.3 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 040303 (Lake Michigan) (1.2 MB)
- SWAT Model Report 040302 (Wolf/Fox Rivers) (1.6 MB)
- Pilot Study to Investigate the Impacts of Emerging Warm-Season Grass Management Systems on Wildlife Habitat Components, 2010 (4.7 MB)
- Wood River Valley Aquatic Habitat Study, 2010 (2.8 MB)
- Effects of the Conservation Reserve Program on Priority Shortgrass Prairie Birds, 2009 (5.3 MB)
- Estimated CRP Benefits to Priority Shortgrass Prairie Birds, 2009 (1.1 MB)
- Effects of the Wetlands Reserve Program on Waterfowl Carrying Capacity in the Rainwater Basin Region of South-Central Nebraska, 2008 (1.2 MB)
- Estimated CRP Benefits to Mixed-Grass Prairie Birds, 2008 (0.5 MB)
- Effects of the Conservation Reserve Program on Priority Mixed-grass Prairie Birds, 2007 (1.5 MB)
- Benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program to Grassland Bird Populations in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota and South Dakota, 2007 (1.6 MB)
- Ecology and Management of Scrub-shrub Birds in New England: A Comprehensive Review, 2007 (4.5 MB)
- Using NatureServe Information to Assess Farm Bill Practice Effects on At-risk Species and Habitats, Missouri Pilot Final Report, 2007 (3.2 MB)
- Waterfowl Response to the Conservation Reserve Program and Swampbuster Provision In the Prairie Pothole Region, 1992-2004, 2007 (0.2 MB)
- Estimating Response of Ring-necked Pheasant to the Conservation Reserve Program, 2006
- Estimating Wildlife Response to the Conservation Reserve Program: Bobwhite and Grassland Birds, 2006 (0.5 MB)
- Use of CRP Fields by Greater Sage-grouse and other Shrubsteppe associated Wildlife in Washington, 2006 (4.0 MB)
Bibliographies
Fact Sheets: Conservation Insights and Science Notes
Fact Sheets: Conservation Insights and Science Notes
The below fact sheets include Conservation Insights and a Science Note on the effects of voluntary conservation on select wildlife species. Conservation Insights fact sheets are organized in descending order by date.
Conservation Insights
- Small, Diversified Farms in New England Provide Conservation Opportunities for Shrubland Birds, 2021
- Conservation Reserve Program Benefits Lesser Prairie-Chickens, 2020 (1.2 MB)
- Quantifying Outcomes of Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) for the Benefit of Landowners and At-Risk Wildlife, 2020 (1.5 MB)
- Conifer Removal Benefits Sage-Grouse, Other Sagebrush Birds, and Rangeland Productivity, 2019 (3.8 MB)
- LPCI Practices Benefit Lesser Prairie-Chickens and Ranchers, 2019 (5.2 MB)
- Private Landowner Response to NRCS Young Forest Programs, 2018 (1.6 MB)
- Conservation Practices Benefit Priority Birds in the Intermountain West, 2017 (2.6 MB)
- Small Forest Openings Support Shrubland Birds and Native Bees in the Northeast, 2017 (2.5 MB)
- Migrating and Wintering Waterfowl Select WRP Easements to Meet Annual Life-cycle Needs, 2015 (2.2 MB)
- Weather Surveillance Radar Reveals Bird Response to the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative, 2015 (1.3 MB)
- Relationship of Lesser Prairie-Chicken Lek Presence and Density to Grassland Conservation Programs, 2014 (0.8 MB)
- Targeted Conifer Removal: a Proactive Solution to Conserving Sage-Grouse, 2014 (1.3 MB)
- Wetlands Provide Vital Sage-Grouse Summer Habitats on Private Lands, 2014 (1.3 MB)
- Wyoming's Core Area Policy and Conservation Easements Benefit Sage-Grouse, 2014 (2.0 MB)
- Farm Bill Conservation Programs Can Help Meet the Needs of Spring-Migrating Waterfowl in Southern Oregon-Northeastern California, 2013 (1.1 MB)
- Applying the Sage-Grouse Fence Collision Risk Tool to Reduce Bird Strikes, 2012 (0.6 MB)
- Conservation Practices Benefit Shrubland Birds in New England, 2012 (0.5 MB)
- USDA Conservation Program Contributions to Lesser Prairie-Chicken conservation in the context of Projected Climate Change, 2012 (1.1 MB)
- Wintering Waterfowl Respond to Wetlands Reserve Program Lands in the Central Valley of California, 2012 (2.3 MB)
- WRP Contributes to Amphibian Conservation in Missouri, 2012 (0.9 MB)
- Conservation Practices Benefit Western Native Trout, 2011 (0.6 MB)
- Landscape Context Affects Bird Use of Conservation Practices in Delmarva, 2011 (1.5 MB)
- Analysis of Missouri Wetlands Reserve Program Easement Monitoring Data, 2009 (2.5 MB)
- Bobwhite and Upland Songbird response to CCRP Practice CP33, Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds, 2009 (0.5 MB)
- Factors Influencing Swamp Sparrow Reproductive Success at Restored and Natural Marshes, 2009 (1.0 MB)
- National Evaluation of Wildlife Benefits of CRP practice CP33, Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds, 2009 (3.2 MB)
- The CRP Enhances Landscape-level Grassland Bird Species Richness, 2009 (0.2 MB)
- Ecological Monitoring Insights from the Wetlands Reserve Program in Missouri, 2008 (1.0 MB)
- WRP Supports Migrating Waterfowl in Nebraska's Rainwater Basin Region, 2008 (0.4 MB)
Science Note
Webinars
Webinars
The below Conservation Outcomes Webinar recordings feature scientists and other subject matter experts speaking on the effects of voluntary conservation on wildlife. Webinar recordings are organized in descending order by date.
- December 8, 2022 – Reducing Woody Encroachment to Conserve Rangeland Production in the Great Plains: Webinar Recording (Captions Available), Presentation Slides, and Additional Resources One-Pager
- June 23, 2022 – Science Informs Managing Working Lands for Lesser Prairie-Chickens: Webinar Recording, Presentation Slides, and Transcript
- February 24, 2022 – What New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mice Tell Us About Functional Riparian Ecosystems: Webinar Recording and Presentation Slides
- November 18, 2021 – A Decade of Science Support in the Sagebrush Biome: Webinar Recordings and Presentation Slides
- September 23, 2021 – CEAP Science Informs Shrubland Bird Conservation in Eastern Forests: Webinar Recording and Presentation Slides
- July 22, 2021 – Pollinator Response to NRCS Pollinator Practices: Webinar Recording and Presentation Slides
- February 25, 2021 – Rangeland Analysis Platform: Integrating Production and Economics into Area-Wide Planning: Webinar Recording
- August 27, 2020 – Conservation Outcomes of NRCS’s Working Lands for Wildlife in Eastern Forests: Webinar Recording
- April 23, 2020 – Conservation Outcomes on America’s Western Grazing Lands with NRCS’s Working Lands for Wildlife: Webinar Recording
Additional Resources
Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP)
USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) is a multi-agency effort led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to quantify the effects of conservation practices across the nation’s working lands.
Learn MoreFrequently Asked Questions | Conservation Effects Assessment Project
This webpage provides answers to frequently asked questions about the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP).
Last Updated: February 28, 2023
Learn MorePublications | Conservation Effects Assessment Project
USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project, CEAP, provides a suite of publications highlighting the effects of voluntary conservation across the nation’s working lands.
Learn MoreConservation Outcomes Webinar Series
The bi-monthly Conservation Outcomes Webinar Series provides key findings, data, and tools to support producers and partners in pursuing voluntary conservation efforts across the nation's working lands.
Learn More