European Wildlife

Hazel Grouse Welfare and Boreal Forest Management

Hazel grouse are forest birds of European boreal and mixed woodland that are declining as intensive forestry reduces the structural diversity they require for nesting, foraging, and cover.

Key Facts

Hazel grouse are classified as Least Concern globally but declining in parts of Western Europe
They require structurally diverse forest with abundant undergrowth including alder, hazel, and bilberry
Clear-cut forestry eliminates the structural complexity they need for decades after cutting
They are ground-nesting birds vulnerable to predation during incubation
Traditional selective forestry and uneven-aged forest management supports better hazel grouse welfare

Welfare Considerations

Hazel grouse in structurally simple managed forest lack the dense low cover required for predator avoidance during ground nesting. Clear-cut areas provide no suitable habitat for decades. Chicks require dense undergrowth and diverse invertebrate prey that is reduced in simplified forest stands. Traditional continuous cover forestry that maintains structural diversity provides dramatically better conditions for hazel grouse welfare and reproduction.

What You Can Do

Support continuous cover forestry certification schemes including FSC
Advocate for forest management guidance that maintains structural diversity for ground-nesting birds
Donate to BirdLife Europe and Scandinavian raptor research programs
Engage with national forestry authority consultations on wildlife-friendly silviculture
Support traditional forestry management practices that maintain habitat heterogeneity