Bird species that require early succession habitats are among the most imperiled species in the eastern United States and within North Carolina. Bobwhite quail have become the “flagship species” among this group that also includes numerous high priority songbirds. In response to these population declines, the Commission approved and funded “small game implementation strategies” presented by the Division of Wildlife Management on August 30, 2000. During the following year, the Division made necessary personnel assignments and developed a program to accomplish the nine objectives approved by the Commission. Initially, Cooperative Upland habitat Restoration and Enhancement (CURE Phase I) program work was focused in 3 cooperatives located in the northern Coastal Plain (Halifax and Northampton Counties), southern Coastal Plain (Robeson County), and the western Piedmont (Iredell County). Each cooperative was located in one of three focal areas depicted on the map.
The CURE program initially focused on habitat enhancement and restoration in only three areas to obtain better results than creating scattered habitats across the state. The three focal areas were chosen based upon the presence of a desirable mix of forestlands and fields among other habitat features. Within these focal areas, landowners were invited to apply for the program in 2000. Landowners were encouraged to apply as a group to create a cooperative of 5,000-plus acres.
CURE Phase II began in 2007. Under CURE II, focus in the western Piedmont shifted from the Iredell cooperative to the promotion of native warm season grasses (NWSG) over a larger area in the focal area. The other two original CURE I cooperatives remain a vital part of CURE II. Today, following the same principles established in 2000, we are using the CURE program to implement whole farm management plans designed to increase populations of bobwhite quail, songbirds, and other wildlife which depend upon early succession habitats. As of 2008, private landowners have 13,263 acres enrolled in the CURE II program and are actively managing 1,152 acres.
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