USDA commits new funding to protect sage-grouse, more private investments needed

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a four-year strategy to invest more that $200 million in greater sage-grouse conservation efforts. According to USDA, the strategy, known as Sage Grouse Initiative 2.0, will build on successful public and private conservation efforts to improve sage-grouse habitat. The new plan will provide additional assistance for ranchers to make conservation improvements to their land, which provide mutual benefits for the grouse and for cattle operations.

“It’s encouraging to see USDA remaining at the forefront of federal efforts to move sage-grouse protection forward,” said Eric Holst, senior director of working lands at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). “This funding is a huge boost for sage-grouse, but there are opportunities through emerging programs for impact industries to do even more to protect this iconic bird.”

“Ranchers are absolutely essential to the success of the greater sage-grouse,” Holst said. “They have proven to be willing and committed partners in conservation, so investments like this that tap into the abundant potential of private, working lands deliver the best strategy for recovery. But we need more.”

EDF has partnered with ranchers, energy companies and conservation groups to develop an innovative program called habitat exchanges that provides farmers and ranchers the opportunity to earn new revenue for activities that improve greater sage-grouse habitat. Farmers and ranchers earn conservation credits for these activities, which they can sell to industry to compensate for development, such as roads, transmission lines and other infrastructure that impact species and habitat.

“Now is not the time to be complacent,” Holst said. “We need to build on this momentum to make sure private industries and the 11 sage-grouse states are doing everything they can to ensure sage-grouse success.”

“An investment in sage-grouse is an investment in America’s rural economy,” Holst added.