The Agriculture Department announced a four-year plan to nearly double, to 8 million acres, conservation projects in 11 states in the West to improve habitat for the greater sage-grouse. The ongoing Sage-Grouse Initiative has provided $296.5 million in matching funds since 2010 for conservation improvements on 4.4 million acres of land. The new project will provide an additional $211 million through 2018 for ranchers to make improvements on their land. “I applaud America’s ranchers for their initiative in improving habitats and outcomes for sage-grouse and other wildlife, and for their recognition that these efforts are also good for cattle, good for ranching operations, and good for America’s rural economy,” said Vilsack in a statement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to complete a status review for the greater sage-grouse by the end of September, a step in deciding if the bird should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The USDA and the Interior Department have been active since 2010 in efforts to mitigate threats so a listing would not be necessary. Populations of the sage-grouse have dwindled over the decades. Sage-grouse need large expanses of healthy sagebrush habitat to thrive. Invasive plants and conversion of land to agricultural and energy production have reduced the range of the species. A report earlier this month said the number of male birds has rebounded strongly since a 2013 low.