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The Next Steppe Conference Objectives

  1. To share the causes, characteristics, and impacts of rangeland fire and the extent of the threat of rangeland fire in the Great Basin to Greater Sage-grouse and sage steppe habitats;
  2. To assess current efforts to address the threat of rangeland fire, including strategies to prevent rangeland fire, to suppress fires, and to restore lands impacted by rangeland fire;
  3. To share the most efficient and effective management programs, practices, and tactics for preventing, suppressing, and restoring lands impacted by rangeland fire;
  4. To share what resources are currently available for rangeland fire prevention, suppression, and post-fire rangeland restoration and to share what additional resources could improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these efforts; and
  5. To share changes in rangeland fire operations, programs, and policies that could improve efforts to reduce the number of acres, landowners, and communities affected by rangeland fire and the impacts to landscapes and resources (including habitat for Greater Sage-grouse and other sage steppe-associated wildlife) at risk due to the threat of rangeland fire, under each participant's jurisdiction, control or influence.diagram of conference strategy objectives

Elements could include increasing federal and state rangeland firefighting resources; giving greater priority to rangeland firefighting where and when threats to Greater Sage-grouse habitat are significant; expanded training in tactics and strategies for dealing with rangeland firefighting; improving coordination, communications, and tactical capability; developing local and community resources through training, funding, and greater federal-state-local coordination; additional investments in rural fire protection programs and training; and expanding the use of veteran fire crews and 21st Century Conservation Service Corps efforts for rangeland fire prevention, suppression, and restoration in the Great Basin.