General Information

• The deteriorating health of western sagebrush landscapes has sparked an unprecedented and proactive partnership to conserve the uniquely American habitat that supports iconic wildlife, outdoor recreation, ranching and other traditional land uses.
• The time to address the threats to sagebrush habitat and sage-grouse populations is now - not in five or 10 years, when the West is more fragmented, wildfires are more intense, and non-native vegetation, primarily cheatgrass, has gained more ground.
• Across 10 states, federal and state governments and private landowners recognize that a healthy sagebrush landscape means a healthy western economy. Working together, we are developing a comprehensive plan with the protections necessary to conserve imperiled sagebrush habitat in the face of threats such as fire, invasive species and encroaching development.
• We are already seeing progress across the West, with states, private landowners and stakeholders implementing strategies to preserve core Greater Sage-Grouse areas while focusing important energy development elsewhere. The BLM, for instance, has already achieved some success in restoring and maintaining sagebrush habitat. Federal and state land management agencies are working to design innovative and workable, long-term conservation plans.
• Using a three-legged stool analogy, planning and implementation on federal, state and private lands is necessary for success at a landscape level. There has been and will continue to be cooperation and collaboration among these three elements.
• We are optimistic that - in partnership with states, industry, private landowners and others - we can put smart and effective conservation measures in place that will not only benefit the Greater Sage-Grouse, but will preserve the western way of life, protect wildlife, and promote balance between open space and development.