The mission of the Forested Ecosystems Program (FEP) is to conserve forest birds and their habitats throughout the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Steps toward fulfilling the mission include conducting scientific research and producing management guidelines. Research findings are shared with private, state, and federal agencies responsible for managing areas and programs important for birds through technical and nontechnical reports and peer-reviewed publications. The ultimate goal is to foster the seamless integration of bird conservation with forest management.

Areas of focus include:

• Forest Management-Timber harvesting, road construction, fire suppression, prescribed burning, and other management activities impact bird populations, but for the most part, specific information about the impacts is unknown.
  
  
• Forest Recreation-The Rocky Mountain region is experiencing rapid population growth, with increasing demands on forests, especially in the form of recreation. Little is known about the effects of forest recreation on bird populations.
  
  
• Natural History-Because the U.S. population has historically been centered on the East and West coasts, along with many of the universities and research agencies, comparatively little research has been conducted on Southern Rocky Mountain birds. As a result, even the most basic natural history information is lacking for many species.