By:  Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President

Healthy rangelands are, at least in some part, the underlining factor on determining whether Sage Grouse will be listed or determined to not require an Endangered Species Act action.  Those who have been working to develop conservation actions for betterment of Sage Grouse are paying as much attention to the habitat that Sage Grouse require (sagebrush) as they are to the specific needs of the birds.

Those who wish to use Sage Grouse and the Endangered Species Act to control specific uses of Western Rangelands are also focused on sagebrush – just from a different perspective.

Success in addressing the challenges which confront effective sagebrush management will also have benefits for Sage Grouse and the other species which rely on sustainable sagebrush communities.

While any number of places can give you their perspective on how sagebrush should be managed (normally with an anti spin against their favorite multiple use to hate)…this connection seems to take a more scientific or research oriented point of view, promoting management concepts. 

Through improved understanding, translated to on-the-ground attention for implementing solution approaches, we might actually make some real progress to benefit the landscape as well as all the other things that depend on healthy ranges…including ranchers responsibly managing their livestock and enhancing the resource in the process.