How does woody bioenergy crop use by wildlife compare to that of natural forests?
While woody crops (tree crops) are used more extensively as habitat, they are used less extensively by breeding birds than natural forests. Species using young tree crop plantings are those that are found in shrubland and young early successional forests. As the tree crops become older and close their canopies to look more like natural forests, the wildlife species using them change to become more similar to those using natural forests. This is the same change that occurs with changes in the physical structure of natural forests. BFDP is investigating whether shrubs that provide food sources can be established adjacent to tree crop plantings to increase the value of the tree crops for wildlife.
