Eastern redcedar is important to wildlife. As an evergreen, it provides  good nesting and roosting cover for many birds (18,39). Dense thickets  provide good escape cover for deer, and the abundant foliage, although low  in quality, provides emergency food for them during times of stress.  Fruits are high in crude fat and crude fiber, moderate in calcium, and  very high in total carbohydrates. Eastern redcedar fruits are eaten by  many wildlife species, including waxwings, bobwhite, quail, ruffed grouse,  pheasant, wild turkeys, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and  coyotes (20).

    Eastern redcedar is among the best trees for protecting soils from wind  erosion and reducing the desiccating effects of wind. It ranks high in the  Great Plains shelterbelt plantings because of its ability to withstand  extremes of drought, heat, and cold (15). In Nebraska, eastern redcedar  was the most suitable species among five combinations tested for  single-row field windbreaks (42). The fibrous root system also helps to  hold soil in place, especially on shallow soils. Many varieties of eastern  redcedar are used as ornamental plantings (19,35). The species is also  ranked among the top five for Christmas trees (25). Eastern redcedar is  also important as a source of cedarwood oil, which is a natural product  for direct use in fragrance compounding or as a source of raw material  producing additional fragrance compounds (1).