Conservation and Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems and Sage-grouse
Conservation and Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems and Sage-grouse

Author: Deborah M. Finch

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 54

ISBN-13:

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Sagebrush ecosystems are among the largest and most threatened ecosystems in North America. Greater sage-grouse has served as the bellwether for species conservation in these ecosystems and has been considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act eight times. In September 2015, the decision was made not to list greater sage-grouse, but to reevaluate its status in 5 years. Concerns over sage-grouse and associated habitats have set in motion sweeping Federal and State land management plan changes and proactive science- based conservation actions to address threats within the realm of management control. For nearly a century, the Forest Service (FS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has studied sagebrush ecosystems and for decades has focused on sage-grouse biology and habitat requirements. Our team of FS scientists and managers prepared this assessment to summarize FS strengths, capabilities, partners, past and current research, and potential future high-priority research areas for conservation and restoration of sagebrush ecosystems and sage-grouse. We identified research and science-based management needs of the National Forest System where lands are important for breeding and brood-rearing habitats for sage-grouse. We recommend expanded research and science delivery by FS scientists. This work will help meet continuing widespread concerns and calls for science-based conservation to mitigate threats to sagebrush ecosystems, conserve populations of sage-grouse and other sagebrush-obligate species, and restore sagebrush ecosystems throughout the western United States.

Conservation and Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems and Sage-grouse
Conservation and Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems and Sage-grouse

Author: Deborah M. Finch

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 54

ISBN-13:

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Sagebrush ecosystems are among the largest and most threatened ecosystems in North America. Greater sage-grouse has served as the bellwether for species conservation in these ecosystems and has been considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act eight times. In September 2015, the decision was made not to list greater sage-grouse, but to reevaluate its status in 5 years. Concerns over sage-grouse and associated habitats have set in motion sweeping Federal and State land management plan changes and proactive science- based conservation actions to address threats within the realm of management control. For nearly a century, the Forest Service (FS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has studied sagebrush ecosystems and for decades has focused on sage-grouse biology and habitat requirements. Our team of FS scientists and managers prepared this assessment to summarize FS strengths, capabilities, partners, past and current research, and potential future high-priority research areas for conservation and restoration of sagebrush ecosystems and sage-grouse. We identified research and science-based management needs of the National Forest System where lands are important for breeding and brood-rearing habitats for sage-grouse. We recommend expanded research and science delivery by FS scientists. This work will help meet continuing widespread concerns and calls for science-based conservation to mitigate threats to sagebrush ecosystems, conserve populations of sage-grouse and other sagebrush-obligate species, and restore sagebrush ecosystems throughout the western United States.

Greater Sage-Grouse
Greater Sage-Grouse

Author: Steve Knick

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2011-05-19

Total Pages: 665

ISBN-13: 0520948688

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Admired for its elaborate breeding displays and treasured as a game bird, the Greater Sage-Grouse is a charismatic symbol of the broad open spaces in western North America. Unfortunately these birds have declined across much of their range—which stretches across 11 western states and reaches into Canada—mostly due to loss of critical sagebrush habitat. Today the Greater Sage-Grouse is at the center of a complex conservation challenge. This multifaceted volume, an important foundation for developing conservation strategies and actions, provides a comprehensive synthesis of scientific information on the biology and ecology of the Greater Sage-Grouse. Bringing together the experience of thirty-eight researchers, it describes the bird’s population trends, its sagebrush habitat, and potential limitations to conservation, including the effects of rangeland fire, climate change, invasive plants, disease, and land uses such as energy development, grazing, and agriculture.

Science Framework for the Conservation and Restoration Strategy of the Department of the Interior, Secretarial Order 3336
Science Framework for the Conservation and Restoration Strategy of the Department of the Interior, Secretarial Order 3336

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13:

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The Science Framework for the Conservation and Restoration Strategy of the Department of the Interior, Secretarial Order 3336 (SO 3336), Rangeland Fire Prevention, Management and Restoration, provides a strategic, multiscale approach for prioritizing areas for management and determining effective management strategies across the sagebrush biome. The emphasis of this version is on sagebrush ecosystems and greater sage-grouse. The Science Framework uses a six step process in which sagebrush ecosystem resilience to disturbance and resistance to nonnative, invasive annual grasses is linked to species habitat information based on the distribution and abundance of focal species. The predominant ecosystem and anthropogenic threats are assessed, and a habitat matrix is developed that helps decision makers evaluate risks and determine appropriate management strategies at regional and local scales. Areas are prioritized for management action using a geospatial approach that overlays resilience and resistance, species habitat information, and predominant threats. Decision tools are discussed for determining the suitability of priority areas for management and the most appropriate management actions at regional to local scales. The Science Framework and geospatial crosscut are intended to complement the mitigation strategies associated with the Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Plan amendments for the Department of the Interior Bureaus, such as the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Science Framework for Conservation and Restoration of the Sagebrush Biome
Science Framework for Conservation and Restoration of the Sagebrush Biome

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 213

ISBN-13:

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The Science Framework is intended to link the Department of the Interiors Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy with long-term strategic conservation actions in the sagebrush biome. The Science Framework provides a multiscale approach for prioritizing areas for management and determining effective management strategies within the sagebrush biome. The emphasis is on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems and Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The approach provided in the Science Framework links sagebrush ecosystem resilience to disturbance and resistance to nonnative, invasive plant species to species habitat information based on the distribution and abundance of focal species. A geospatial process is presented that overlays information on ecosystem resilience and resistance, species habitats, and predominant threats and that can be used at the mid-scale to prioritize areas for management. A resilience and resistance habitat matrix is provided that can help decisionmakers evaluate risks and determine appropriate management strategies. Prioritized areas and management strategies can be refined by managers and stakeholders at the local scale based on higher resolution data and local knowledge. Decision tools are discussed for determining appropriate management actions for areas that are prioritized for management. Geospatial data, maps, and models are provided through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ScienceBase and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Landscape Approach Data Portal. The Science Framework is intended to be adaptive and will be updated as additional data become available on other values and species at risk. It is anticipated that the Science Framework will be widely used to: (1) inform emerging strategies to conserve sagebrush ecosystems, sagebrush dependent species, and human uses of the sagebrush system, and (2) assist managers in prioritizing and planning on-the-ground restoration and mitigation actions across the sagebrush biome.

Using Resistance and Resilance Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-Grouse
Using Resistance and Resilance Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-Grouse

Author: United States Department of Agriculture

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-06-22

Total Pages: 84

ISBN-13: 9781511951463

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This Report provides a strategic approach for conservation of sagebrush ecosystems and Greater Sage-Grouse (sage-grouse) that focuses specifically on habitat threats caused by invasive annual grasses and altered fire regimes. It uses information on factors that influence (1) sagebrush ecosystem resilience to distur-bance and resistance to invasive annual grasses and (2) distribution, relative abundance, and persistence of sage-grouse populations to develop management strategies at both landscape and site scales. A sage-grouse habitat matrix links relative resilience and resistance of sagebrush ecosystems with sage-grouse habitat re-quirements for landscape cover of sagebrush to help decision makers assess risks and determine appropriate management strategies at landscape scales. Focal areas for management are assessed by overlaying matrix components with sage-grouse Priority Areas for Conservation (PACs), breeding bird densities, and specific habitat threats. Decision tools are discussed for determining the suitability of focal areas for treatment and the most appropriate management treatments.

Using Resilience and Resistance Concepts to Manage Threats to Sagebrush Ecosystems, Gunnison Sage-grouse, and Greater Sage-grouse in Their Eastern Range
Using Resilience and Resistance Concepts to Manage Threats to Sagebrush Ecosystems, Gunnison Sage-grouse, and Greater Sage-grouse in Their Eastern Range

Author: Jeanne C. Chambers

Publisher:

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13:

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This report provides a strategic approach developed by a Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies interagency working group for conservation of sagebrush ecosystems, Greater sage-grouse, and Gunnison sage-grouse. It uses information on (1) factors that influence sagebrush ecosystem resilience to disturbance and resistance to nonnative invasive annual grasses and (2) distribution and relative abundance of sage-grouse populations to address persistent ecosystem threats, such as invasive annual grasses and wildfire, and land use and development threats, such as oil and gas development and cropland conversion, to develop effective management strategies. A sage-grouse habitat matrix links relative resilience and resistance of sagebrush ecosystems with modeled sage-grouse breeding habitat probabilities to help decisionmakers assess risks and determine appropriate management strategies at both landscape and site scales. Areas for targeted management are assessed by overlaying matrix components with Greater sage-grouse Priority Areas for Conservation and Gunnison sage-grouse critical habitat and linkages, breeding bird concentration areas, and specific habitat threats. Decision tools are discussed for determining the suitability of target areas for management and the most appropriate management actions. A similar approach was developed for the Great Basin that was incorporated into the Federal land use plan amendments and served as the basis of a Bureau of Land Management Fire and Invasives Assessment Tool, which was used to prioritize sage-grouse habitat for targeted management activities.

Habitat Threats in the Sagebrush Ecosystem
Habitat Threats in the Sagebrush Ecosystem

Author: David S. Dobkin

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 340

ISBN-13:

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This book is about the status and future of the sagebrush ecosystem and its dependent species. The ecosystem is not healthy and is diminishing due to the many and various human land uses. Maintaining the ecosystem will require monumental changes in management and those changes must address all land uses in an integrated, holistic manner to be effective. The two major obstacles are a lack of needed resources, both funds and land use direction, and the attempt to stop the loss and degradation of sagebrush habitats while lacking essential research information on which to base effective strategies.

Using Resistance and Resilience Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-grouse
Using Resistance and Resilience Concepts to Reduce Impacts of Invasive Annual Grasses and Altered Fire Regimes on the Sagebrush Ecosystem and Greater Sage-grouse

Author: Jeanne C. Chambers

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 73

ISBN-13:

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This Report provides a strategic approach for conservation of sagebrush ecosystems and Greater Sage-Grouse (sage-grouse) that focuses specifically on habitat threats caused by invasive annual grasses and altered fire regimes. It uses information on factors that influence (1) sagebrush ecosystem resilience to disturbance and resistance to invasive annual grasses and (2) distribution, relative abundance, and persistence of sage-grouse populations to develop management strategies at both landscape and site scales. A sage-grouse habitat matrix links relative resilience and resistance of sagebrush ecosystems with sage-grouse habitat requirements for landscape cover of sagebrush to help decision makers assess risks and determine appropriate management strategies at landscape scales. Focal areas for management are assessed by overlaying matrix components with sage-grouse Priority Areas for Conservation (PACs), breeding bird densities, and specific habitat threats. Decision tools are discussed for determining the suitability of focal areas for treatment and the most appropriate management treatments.