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COOPERATIVE EASTERN OAK INITIATIVE
In the eastern United States oaks (Quercus spp.) exert a tremendous influence on natural communities and human society.
Oaks dominate many forest stands throughout much of the eastern United States, particularly in the southern and central
Appalachians. In these forest systems, oaks play a vital role in numerous ecological webs, and influence hundreds of
wildlife species by providing food (i.e., acorns) and shelter. From an anthropomorphic view, oak forests are valued for
their recreational opportunities, aesthetic qualities, and importance as a timber resource.
Despite the ecological and sociological importance of oaks in the eastern U.S., the future health of these forests and
associated wildlife is threatened. Threats to eastern oak forests include lack of regeneration, poor silvicultural
practices, reduced productivity and mortality caused by invasive species and disease, over-browsing by white-tailed deer,
and fragmentation due to urban sprawl.
Because of the broad spectrum of issues facing conservation of oak forests and the myriad of private, state, and federal
groups involved in their management, any effective strategy will require a cooperative, multi-agency group whose focus is
to coordinate and prioritize strategies and management plans. The Cooperative Eastern Oak Initiative (CEOI) modeled after
the Joint Ventures that evolved from North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the recently organized National Fish
Habitat Initiative was organized to fill this need. The CEOI is an inter-disciplinary working group created to address the
conservation and management of eastern oak forests proactively while there is still large acreage of oak forests remaining.
The CEOI currently consists of representatives from the Conservation Management Institute at Virginia Tech, The Smithsonian
Institute, Wildlife Conservation Society, The USDA Northeastern and Southern Research Stations, The USDA Forest Health
Monitoring Program, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, North Carolina Wildlife Resources, the Virginia
Department of Forestry, Pennsylvania State University, Virginia Tech, and Meadwestvaco Cooperation.
The immediate goal of this group is to encourage participation from all interested parties (i.e., agencies, conservation
organizations, corporations, and individuals) and formalize the structure, mission, goals and objectives of the initiative.
On-going activities include maintaining the CEOI webpage to coordinate and disseminate information related to oak forest
and wildlife management, hosting symposia at applicable natural resource meetings and conferences, and pursuing seed money
to support initial organizational and coordination meetings.
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