SAGE-GROUSE RECOVERY GETS BOOST FROM USDA
FUNDING
Boise, Idaho, July 1, 2011
— The U.S. Department of Agriculture is sending the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Idaho an additional $5.5
million to help conserve critical sage-grouse habitats. The funding is to establish conservation easements through the Grassland
Reserve Program that will maintain large tracts of sagebrush habitat important to sage-grouse. Landowners may apply for this
program through July 20, 2011.
Studies show that fragmented
habitat is the primary cause of sage-grouse population decline. One way landowners can help maintain continuous sagebrush
habitat for the bird is through the service’s voluntary Grassland Reserve Program. This program limits future development
of private rangeland using conservation easements; landowners still retain grazing rights to the land.
“Farm Bill programs like the Grassland Reserve Program are integral to the
State of Idaho’s sage-grouse conservation efforts,” said Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter. “Voluntary
incentives for farmers and ranchers to implement additional measures on private lands to benefit sage-grouse demonstrate our
commitment to doing everything we can to prevent this species from becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act. The State
of Idaho has been a leader in western sage-grouse conservation efforts, and we will continue to support innovative and cost
effective resource conservation approaches.”
Idaho
NRCS is working with state agencies and other organizations on ways to effectively improve sage-grouse populations and preserve
working ranchlands.
“The USDA is committed to
helping ranchers and sage-grouse,” said Jeff Burwell Idaho NRCS State Conservationist. “We are working with our
partners to take a proactive approach to maintain these large tracts of grazing lands that support both healthy sage-grouse
populations and sustainable ranching businesses.”
“The
Grassland Reserve Program is one way to protect those lands for both people and birds,” Burwell said. “Idaho NRCS
requested additional fiscal year 2011 funds for the program because of an overwhelming interest from ranchers in sage-grouse
habitat areas. Idaho’s initial allocation was $421,000.”
“It is appropriate in this case to extend funding for a voluntary program that allows property owners and ranchers
to decide for themselves about participating in an effort that can benefit the numbers of sage grouse and potentially other
species, as well as their own family’s ranching operation,” said Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the U.S.
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with oversight of the Endangered Species Act.
Ranchers along with local, state and federal agencies in Idaho are working cooperatively to keep the sage-grouse
from being listed by focusing on habitat improvement.
“An
endangered species listing for the sage-grouse could be very injurious to Idaho agriculture and our state’s economy.
Governor Otter and our state leaders are to be commended for their leadership in trying to head off any species listings of
this kind in Idaho,” Crapo said.
