Announcing the Conifer Encroachment Education Project
Just-launched website promotes simple and effective solutions to conifer encroachment in sagebrush rangelands
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New Website Delivers Management-Focused Education and Solutions for Sagebrush Country
The USDA-NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife and the Intermountain West Joint Venture are proud to announce the launch of ConiferEncroachment.com—a new educational website designed to empower land managers with proven strategies to tackle one of the most pressing threats to sagebrush rangelands: conifer encroachment.
Driven by the latest science and shaped by on-the-ground experience, the Conifer Encroachment Education Project provides practical, management-focused resources to help land managers defend and restore core sagebrush areas.
According to the Sagebrush Conservation Design, conifer encroachment is the second-leading cause of sagebrush loss across the American West, where each year 350,00 acres of high-quality sagebrush are encroached by expanding trees like pinyon pine, juniper, Douglas-fir, and ponderosa pine.
The new site offers:
- Clear explanations of what conifer encroachment is and where it’s happening
- Insights into how it affects both people and wildlife
- Science-based solutions for reducing conifer encroachment
- Eye-catching visuals and maps to support planning and communication
- Curated resources for designing and implementing effective treatments
- Guidance on balancing sagebrush restoration with conservation of historic woodlands
“We have the tools, know-how, and an urgent need to fight back against conifer encroachment in sagebrush rangelands,” says Jeremy Maestas, Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist with the NRCS West Technology Support Center. “This website brings together the most important insights from years of fieldwork and research to help land managers act decisively and effectively.”
The project also emphasizes thoughtful decision-making around managing historic woodlands, recognizing the ecological value of native trees in appropriate settings.
“There are great tools here for practitioners trying to navigate the complexities of woodland and sagebrush management,” says Mariah McIntosh, Science to Implementation Specialist with the Intermountain West Joint Venture. “The site doesn’t shy away from these challenges and instead emphasizes the importance of balanced, outcome-driven projects.”
Explore the new site and join a growing movement of landowners, practitioners, and conservationists working to safeguard the sagebrush biome.
