BLM-(MT)- Sage-Grouse Conservation, Rocky Mountain Region

Background: Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah have been active partners in the collaborative, science-based conservation campaign to protect the greater sage-grouse and the sagebrush ecosystem. Due to the collective efforts of federal, state and private partners across the range, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has found that the greater sage-grouse does not warrant protection under the Endangered Species Act. Conserving the greater sage-grouse will benefit hundreds of other native plants and animals and communities across the West. These conservation efforts are led and strengthened by effective partnerships ⿿ ensuring that the gains we make for the greater sage-grouse will endure. Objectives: The objective of this agreement is to establish a Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Program in the Rocky Mountain Region (MT, WY, CO and UT) through which the BLM and the recipient can cooperatively identify conservation needs, identify and fund actions, activities, projects, and track accomplishments leading to the conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse on BLM lands. The recipient will seek opportunities to expand the program by attracting new partners. In coordination with BLM, the recipient will invite other federal agencies and private parties to participate in the program. This program expansion shall improve the overall conservation outcomes associated with the project through increased coordination, creating efficiencies of scale, and leveraging the funds of multiple federal agencies and private parties. The program is designed to support actions, activities, and projects that directly address threats or provide proactive conservation for Greater Sage-Grouse. The intent of these actions it to ensure that the species is not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The program will implement on-the-ground conservation actions or other projects needed to effectively and efficiently manage sage-grouse and their habitats. BLM will partner with the recipient to establish sage-grouse conservation actions with the goal of achieving landscape-level results. Public Benefit: Conservation of Greater Sage-Grouse and its habitat provide an essential connection for Americans of all ages and abilities to the life⿐enhancing benefits of nature and the outdoors. Building a public program that demonstrates the ability of collaborative efforts to conserve sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats will help save money long-term, will conserve values of public lands, and will demonstrate that conservation of this species can be achieved in a multiple use management setting. This project will improve the overall conservation outcomes through increased coordination, creating efficiencies of scale, and collaboration between multiple federal agencies and private parties.