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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. Declining Habitat, Declining Wildlife Why does wildlife need a CURE? Because over the past 50 years, wildlife managers and biologists have observed a decline in early succession habitat. The loss of this habitat type is reflected in declining wildlife populations. Researchers have recorded data for the decline of birds in particular, but rabbits and other species are thought to be declining as well.
Past Efforts
A Private Land Focus From a Public Agency? CURE on Public Lands
Commission biologists create a custom management plan for each landowner enrolled in the CURE Program. Each plan outlines management techniques, goals, locations, and a timetable. Management techniques include the following:
Biologists and volunteers monitor quail and songbird populations. Spring and fall covey counts take place on each landowner’s property within a cooperative. Songbirds are monitored at least once a year on pre-determined sites within each cooperative. Commission biologists maintain close contact with CURE participants to monitor landowners’ participation and compliance with management plans.
After this initial phase, the CURE Program has expanded. NCWRC staff have established a position to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Landowner Incentives Program (LIP) and manage longleaf pine habitats to mimic natural fire-maintained ecosystems in 4 southeastern North Carolina counties (Bladen, Cumberland, Duplin, and Sampson). NCWRC has obtained 2 grants from the North Carolina Department of Justice to implement early succession habitat improvements on corporate farms operated by Murphy-Brown, LLC and other private corporations on over 7,000 acres in Bladen County. Finally, NCWRC has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to establish biologist positions in each of North Carolina’s three Regional NRCS offices. They work with Federal Farm Bill Programs; the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and other programs as needed. These biologists are in positions to influence Federally-regulated wildlife habitat policy and management on agricultural lands throughout the entire state. The following are some PDF files that highlight
several CURE-related projects: Corporate CURE – Corporate Farming Habitat Improvements (PDF) CURE is no longer accepting applications, but technical guidance and information is always available. Please call the Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Wildlife Management at 919-707-0050.
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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. 
Quail and other grassland birds responded exceptionally well to 19th century farming practices - small fields with brushy borders, irregular patches of uncultivated land, fields left fallow, and the presence of native warm season grasses in pasture areas. Since most potential habitat of this type occurs on private land, the Commission decided that the CURE program would be a cooperative approach using Commission knowledge and resources applied to private lands and landowner resources. Using this approach, biologists could select focal areas based upon ecology rather than only the location of public lands.
To be successful, long term solutions to declining small game habitat and populations must have the support of private citizens. There is not enough public land in North Carolina to re-establish small game populations to desired levels. Throughout the history of the CURE Program, Commission biologists have worked with landowners as a group and learned productive techniques to create and enhance early succession habitat and build support for wildlife management on private lands. Commission biologists have also educated the public about how our land use choices affect small game and other early succession wildlife in our state.