MONTANA SAGE-GROUSE STRATEGY ANNOUNCED

June 25, 2009

For More Information:
Larry Cooper, 406-587-6842

Bozeman--Montana NRCS has developed a Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy specifically designed to maintain and enhance sage-grouse habitat and sage-grouse populations. The document outlines specific measures that Montana NRCS will pursue for private land sage-grouse conservation. Montana State Conservationist Joyce Swartzendruber says, “This strategic approach is designed to actively engage landowners in cooperative and scientific efforts to save the sage-grouse and its habitat.”

Documented sage-grouse declines have worried naturalists and biologists for many years. Currently, about 27 million acres of sagebrush steppe capable of providing habitat for sage-grouse exists in Montana. A substantial amount of that sage-brush habitat is privately owned. The strategy identifies “core” habitat areas in the state giving those areas the highest priority. The plan identifies 12 primary issues that have potentially adverse effects on sage-grouse populations in Montana.

To develop the strategy, an NRCS Sage Grouse Work Group examined all available scientific research and consulted with many stakeholders, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Bureau of Land Management; University of Montana; Montana State University; Montana Stockgrowers Association;, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; Intertribal Agricultural Council; The Nature Conservancy, and individual private landowners.

The Environmental Defense Fund has commended the NRCS strategy, calling it “a model example of how states can utilize farm bill programs in a focused, science-based way to benefit wildlife.” The NRCS strategy involves five steps:
• Identify core areas where the largest benefit for sage-grouse conservation can be attained
• Expand NRCS sage-grouse public education and outreach
• Provide long-term protection through conservation easements of the best remaining habitat to prevent conversion to other uses
• Improve the health and habitat values associated with sagebrush communities through management and structural improvements
• Develop and implement a comprehensive monitoring plan to measure the effectiveness of the strategy
For more information, visit www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov. 

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