Table Of Content

BLM LIBRARY 88057086 / Q&ti 1 % » m. Wf 1/ HlP 'jJm QL 696 . G285 B87 2005 N Sage-Grouse and and manage sagebrush habitat for the benefit of sage-grouse and Sagebrush Habitat the hundreds of other sagebrush- Conservation Initiative dependent species. The success of this rangewide effort relies on the involvement of numerous State, Federal and Tribal agencies, as well as interest groups and private landowners. The BLM National agencies, local sage-grouse working Strategy for Conserving groups, and various other public and private partners. Sagebrush Habitat The National Strategy provides Bureauwide guidance on sage-grouse In November 2004, the BLM habitat. Specifically, it provides released its National Sage-Grouse Once seen in great numbers across interim guidance for managing Habitat Conservation Strategy, sagebrush landscapes of the West, sagebrush habitat on BLM-managed which emphasizes partnership in sage-grouse have declined over the lands that are also used for grazing, conserving sage-grouse habitat, past century because of the loss, recreation, mining and energy through consultation, cooperation, degradation, and fragmentation of the development. and communication with the Western sagebrush habitats that are essential for The National Strategy is assisting Association of Fish and Wildlife their survival. BLM State Offices as they develop Agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife A broad segment of the public State-level strategies in concert with Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the is concerned about the health of parallel efforts by State wildlife U.S. Geological Survey, State wildlife remaining sagebrush lands and the agencies. BLM State-level strategies diverse plants and animals they will complement State wildlife agency support, prompting the formation conservation plans by addressing of cooperative partnerships among BLM-specific considerations. wildlife agencies in Western states and The BLM’s State-level strategies Federal agencies such as the Bureau of will: Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish and • guide the incorporation of sage- Wildlife Service. grouse habitat considerations into Together, these partners plan new and existing BLM land use and coordinate actions that conserve plans after determining whether Greater sage-grouse now occupy about 56% of the habitat that was 9 available to them before the arrival of settlers of European descent. Gunnison sage-grouse now occupy about 10% of the habitat that existed before the arrival of settlers. As manager of half of the remaining sagebrush habitat in the United States, the BLM recognizes the critical need to maintain and restore CQfrpnriicn r»onlfot onn corrp_rrrr\iicp existing plans adequately address Partnerships Yield • Cooperation between the BLM and those considerations. a ranch operation along the Utah— On-the-Ground Successes Wyoming border resulted in the • help ensure that BLM-authorized successful treatment of overgrown Managing for sage-grouse as a and BLM-permitted activities avoid sagebrush on more than 400 acres. special-status species across diverse or mitigate effects on sage-grouse Prescribed burning improved landscapes over the last three decades habitat. sage-grouse habitat by removing has allowed the BLM to be part 30 to 60% of the overgrowth. of many successful approaches to • set goals for enhancing sagebrush Remarkable increases in brood and sagebrush conservation. habitat to benefit sage-grouse lek counts were recorded in the populations and the more than treated area. • The BLM and its partners have 350 other species that depend on studied sage-grouse strutting sagebrush ecosystems. grounds in California’s Long Valley and Mono Basin since the 1950s The BLM’s State-level strategies are and have been restoring sagebrush in various stages of completion and are lands there since the 1970s. A closely related to efforts of the Western 2004 inventory revealed four Association of Fish and Wildlife previously unrecorded strutting Agencies. grounds. Such data have been instrumental in developing a sage- Funding Sage-Grouse grouse conservation strategy for • Working with industry and other Conservation California and Nevada. partners, the BLM has developed best management practices that To further develop and implement minimize the effects of energy the National Strategy, the BLM has development on sage-grouse and requested $3.6 million for its sage- their habitat. Practices such as grouse conservation efforts in Fiscal “greenstripping”—removing aging Year 2006. This funding will be used sagebrush and reseeding with more to conserve and enhance sage-grouse productive mixed vegetation— habitat on BLM-managed land across along access roads in a northeastern the West. Utah oil and gas field, and interim The National Strategy lists 48 reclamation and monitoring at actions to help the BLM maintain, surface coal mines in northwestern enhance, and restore sagebrush habitats • The BLM, in partnership with Colorado, have helped integrate in coordination with Federal and State Utah Partners for Conservation and multiple land uses as directed by partners while ensuring multiple use Development, is building a long¬ law. and other goals outlined by Congress. term, multijurisdictional team to These actions can be incorporated restore, maintain, and improve the For the complete text of the into other approved uses of public health of shrub-steppe ecosystems BLM National Sage-Grouse Habitat lands, including energy development, throughout Utah. Conservation Strategy and related livestock grazing, mining, recreation, guidance to BLM managers, a detailed and fire management. • A local working group made up list of partnership success stories, Sage-grouse also benefit from of ranchers, sportsmen, State and links to other information about sagebrush restoration and invasive authorities, the Natural Resources efforts to conserve sage-grouse and weed control projects funded through Conservation Service, and the sagebrush habitat, visit www.blm.gov/ the BLM’s Challenge Cost Share BLM designed a plan to manage nhp/spotlight/sage_grouse/. program. grazing allotments and associated private lands in south-central Idaho, restore upland habitat, and protect nesting and winter habitat for sage-grouse. The result has been a significant increase in habitat quality even as livestock grazing continues at existing levels. / Tfio 4 M Bureau fltl fli Land Management of _ ~ „ To enhance the quality of life for all citizens through LU V IjlVr Z the balanced stewardship of Americas public lands and resources. To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of Our Mission the public lands for the use and enjoyment of Tv present and future generations. t /■ A To serve with honesty, integrity, accountability, kyiAj I Clill&b respect, courage, and commitment to make a difference. Pj^lOTltiC'S *mProve t^ie hcsdth an<i productivity of the land to support the BLM multiple-use mission. To cultivate community-based conservation, citizen-centered stewardship, and partnership through consultation, cooperation, and communication. To respect, value, and support our employees, giving them resources and opportunities to succeed. To pursue excellence in business practices, improve accountability to our stakeholders, and deliver better service to our customers. bureau of land management librae 3LDG. 50, ST-136 BLM/WO/GI-05/005+6500 P-449 InvER COlLr^Q 80225