Secretary Jewell Does Status Check One Year after Sage-Grouse Decision

(COMMERCE CITY, CO – September 21, 2016) U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today will host a roundtable discussion about ongoing efforts to conserve the greater sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem. The gathering marks the one-year anniversary of the September 22, 2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision that the greater sage-grouse was “not warranted” for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

Will McDow, director of habitat markets for Environmental Defense Fund, will attend the roundtable and has issued the following statement:

“The sustained momentum of conservation efforts for the greater sage-grouse is impressive. One year after the no-list decision, we continue to see new voluntary commitments from landowners who recognize the importance of continued investment in the future of sage-grouse.

“One innovative approach is the development of state-based habitat exchanges that create broad new opportunities to conserve key habitats. The united efforts of cattlemen, oil and gas companies, and conservation groups to develop the Colorado Habitat Exchange is the clearest illustration of cooperative conservation. 

“This approach complements other important on-the-ground conservation and mitigation efforts — from successful mitigation banks to the Nevada Conservation Credit System, which was the focus of a recent commitment by Newmont Mining Company to conserve 1.5 million acres of sagebrush habitat. These solutions demonstrate the positive outcomes that private investment, market innovation, strong science and political leadership can produce. The sooner this full spectrum of options is available to landowners, the sooner we can realize the full potential of sage-grouse conservation.

“Moving forward, I hope to see federal agencies continue their positive track record on wildlife management, setting clear and rigorous standards for mitigation and conservation programs at a landscape scale. The combination of strong federal policies, consistent state plans and engaged stakeholders will continue to make sage-grouse a shining model of conservation success.”