The world’s largest seed company, Monsanto, says it will research restoration of habitat for sage grouse on 320 acres of its corporate ranch in Idaho, reports Capital Press. The work would mitigate the impact of a Caldwell Canyon phosphate mine that Monsanto intends to open.
“The mine proposed is within public land classified as general sage grouse habitat under the Bureau of Land Management’s new land-use plan, though it shouldn’t affect any active leks, which are sensitive areas where sage grouse perform elaborate mating rituals,” says the newspaper.
Monsanto says it will work with university researchers on the project to restore sage brush and other native plants that were eradicated to make room for cattle grazing. The company also intends to conduct additional research on reclamation of mined land for sage grouse after production ends at its Blackfoot Bridge mine, said Capital Press. A Monsanto official, Randy Vranes, said there was been little research on how to restore land that was cleared for farming or grazing. “We have a section of our ranch that falls into that, and we’re going to do a study to see if there’s a way to bring sage brush back in those areas.”