Photo: Noppadol Paothong
Public Land Partnership
We provide scientific reports, project profiles, technical tools, videos, photos, field guides, and links that tell the story of how cooperative conservation is making a difference for working lands and wildlife across the West.
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News
VIDEOS | Meet The Thomas Family, Sustainable Ranchers in Idaho
November 20, 2017
Watch short videos to hear how and why two young ranchers have put in place conservation practices that benefit the bird and their ...
News
New Science: When Trees Are Cut, Grasses & Shrubs Return
November 14, 2017
Research shows that conifers decrease the native sagebrush grasses and shrubs that wildlife and livestock rely on, and confirms that forage comes back when trees are ...
News
Working With Water: Restoring Wet Meadows in the Sage
November 9, 2017
By Sarah Keller for IWJV | In Montana, land managers and conservationists learned how to restore wet meadows for people and ...
News
Introducing ‘Sagebrush Connections’, A Magazine About Proactive Conservation Partnerships
October 3, 2017
by Thad Heater | The inaugural issue of our new partnership magazine focuses on conserving water resources in sagebrush ...
News
Local Partners Mimic Beavers To Restore Streams In Wyoming
September 22, 2017
SGI field conservationist Mandi Hirsch shares emerging "beaver dam analogue" technology with local partners, which is paying dividends for working lands and wildlife near ...
News
Digital Storefront Tells Stories of Public Land Sagebrush Partnerships
September 13, 2017
A new website, PartnersInTheSage.com, tells stories of how collaborative public-private sagebrush conservation benefits people, wildlife, and communities in the ...
News
Inmates Are Growing Sagebrush in Western Prisons for Wildlife Conservation
September 8, 2017
By Ben Long in Outdoor Life | People incarcerated in state prisons in the West are working to help secure the future of the native big game and game birds of the American ...
News
New Science: Sage Grouse Population Increases When Western Juniper Pushed Back
April 27, 2017
A new study funded in part by the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative found that survival rates of both female sage grouse and their nests increased where encroaching juniper ...
News
Wildhorse Ranch Project: A Win-Win Partnership To Protect Sagebrush Range
April 21, 2017
Innovative conservation easement with ranchers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Nevada Dept. of Wildlife, and NRCS preserves agricultural working lands, wildlife habitat, and ...
News
New USFWS Collaboration Expands Science Tools To Sage-Steppe
April 10, 2017
Thanks to partners like the USFWS, the outlook is brighter for maintaining intact, healthy sagebrush habitat for 350+ species and the hundreds of communities that depend on ...
News
Sage Grouse Need Intact Landscapes For Long-Distance Movement
March 28, 2017
New science shows that keeping big landscapes healthy and connected is essential for maintaining bigger-than-expected sage grouse ...
News
Now Available! Online Replay Of Scientific Presentations On Woodland Expansion
February 21, 2017
Watch free 20-minute presentations featuring the latest science on how removing invading conifers boosts water availability, forage production, and grouse ...
News
Conifer Removal Boosts Sage Grouse Success
January 26, 2017
New research shows that 86% of hens avoided nesting in sagebrush habitat invaded by conifers. Luckily, the studies also show that removing conifers in otherwise high-quality ...
News
Fun Fact Friday: A Natural Winter Windbreak In Sagebrush
January 9, 2017
by Nancy Patterson, BLM | What are wildlife to do out in the sagebrush 'Big Empty' to protect themselves from harsh winter weather conditions? Let sagebrush come to the ...
News
Guzzling Water & Planting Sagebrush | What’s Happening For Sage Grouse On Public Land In Montana
December 20, 2016
Since half of all habitat for greater sage-grouse is on public land, most of it managed by BLM, restoring public rangeland is vital for the birds to thrive. Check out these ...
News
A New Approach For Turning Science Into Action
December 13, 2016
Learn more about the "coproduction of actionable science." At the Sage Grouse Initiative, it means a lot of phone calls, coffee chats, field tours, and honest conversations ...
News
Fun Fact Friday: To Migrate Or To Staycation
December 2, 2016
by Nancy Patterson, BLM | Learn which birds head south and which birds make their home on the sagebrush range during the chilly winter ...
News
Comprehensive ‘Ecosystem Resilience & Resistance’ Map Available For Entire Sage Grouse Range
November 15, 2016
Newly expanded visual tool on the SGI Web App allows managers to better predict and mitigate negative impacts of fire and cheatgrass across sagebrush ...
News
New Research Finds That Sage Grouse Prefer Nesting In Conifer-Free Landscapes
November 10, 2016
Scientists tracked sage grouse nest success in southern Oregon, and found that hens avoided sites where conifer cover exceeded 3% within 800m of their ...
News
#350Species – Autumn In The Sagebrush Ecosystem
October 31, 2016
by Nancy Patterson, BLM Rocky Mountain Region, via mypubliclands.tumblr.com | Greater sage-grouse, 350+ other species, and millions of people depend on the iconic sagebrush ...
News
Sagebrush Songbirds Under the Sage Grouse Umbrella
October 25, 2016
New songbird maps provide tools to help expand the benefits of sage grouse conservation to more wildlife species in the sagebrush community. Learn more from our latest Science ...
News
Collaborative Conservation Is Paying Off For The Sagebrush Ecosystem
October 5, 2016
A new joint report and story map highlight continued sagebrush conservation partnerships that are working for wildlife and ranchers in the West. Learn more about "Greater ...
News
New Research Provides Insights into Sage Grouse DNA
October 3, 2016
by Jennifer Hayes and Brianna Randall | New SGI research finds five genetic subpopulations of sage grouse in Montana and the Dakotas, which are synonymous with the existing ...
News
Tracking Success – 2016 Report | Maintaining Momentum To Conserve Sagebrush Country
September 22, 2016
As the Sage Grouse Initiative finishes our 6th year, we are proud to be a model for how to enhance working lands and wildlife. Check out our "Tracking Success - 2016 Report" ...
News
SGI Workshop Explores ‘Cheap and Cheerful’ Riparian Restoration to Benefit Wildlife and Ranchers
September 15, 2016
At a recent SGI-sponsored workshop, practitioners from around the West learned from beavers about how to heal streams and store water longer on the range. See the photos and ...
News
A Special Recipe For Saving Sage Grouse | Wildlife Photographic Magazine Feature
September 13, 2016
by Brianna Randall | This multi-media story about the Sage Grouse Initiative is the feature in the new issue of Wildlife Photographic Magazine. Learn more about SGI's ...
News
Kennedy Ranch Conservation Improvements Benefit Both Livestock And Wildlife In Utah
August 23, 2016
In northeastern Utah, the Kennedy family's land ethic and commitment to improving natural resources has led them to expand their ranch. Learn how SGI helped them install water ...
News
Why Grow Sagebrush Seedlings in Prisons?
August 11, 2016
The Sagebrush Project, part of the Sustainability in Prisons Project, expands the opportunities for 175 inmates in 11 prisons across 6 states by teaching them to grow ...
News
BREAKING NEWS: BLM Signs Agreement To Expand Collaborative Sagebrush Conservation Model
July 25, 2016
A new partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the Intermountain West Joint Venture will build on the successful model pioneered by the NRCS-led Sage Grouse ...
News
Rockin’ TD Ranch Champions Rangeland Conservation in Nevada
June 21, 2016
Tony and Diane Stobiecki partner with the Sage Grouse Initiative to improve habitat for wildlife and their ranch's bottom line by putting in place projects that improve water ...
News
Ask An Expert | How Does Removing Conifers Help Oregon’s Grouse?
May 31, 2016
Wildlife biologist Fozz Foster works on restoring and improving habitat in Oregon's sagebrush sea. In this 'Ask an Expert' interview, he tells SGI about how he works ...
News
Secretary Jewell Announces $10 Million for Wildfire Resilience in the West
May 24, 2016
The new funds announced today by Secretary Jewell will complement Sage Grouse Initiative's ongoing, cooperative work to remove conifers and restore sagebrush habitat in ...
News
New NRCS Resource Aims to Reduce Wildfire Impacts in Sage Grouse Country
March 31, 2016
A new resource released by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will help private and public land managers work collaboratively to get ahead of the curve and ...
News
Conservation Working For Ranchers And Sage Grouse In The West
February 18, 2016
by The Conservation Fund | The Conservation Fund's Wyoming Sage Grouse Campaign has conserved 15 properties in partnership with SGI and others. We are proud to partner with ...
News
A Game-Changing Approach to Conservation in the West
February 2, 2016
“My neighbors have all been getting on board one by one, now that they are seeing how well it’s working,” says Oregon rancher John O’Keeffe. Read this opinion piece by ...
News
Sagebrush Songbirds Benefit from Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration
September 9, 2015
New research released as part of the Sage Grouse Initiative's Science to Solutions series shows that restoring sagebrush ecosystems not only benefits ranching and sage grouse ...
News
Sage Grouse Conservation Leaders Recognized in California & Nevada
September 1, 2015
This month, SGI and SWAT staff gathered together on the California-Nevada border to share notes, and learn from the unprecedented conservation efforts centered around the ...
News
Department of Defense Dedicates $2 Million to Protect Sage Grouse in Nevada
August 19, 2015
The Department of Defense announced more than $2 million in funding from the Military Services’ Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program to protect ...
News
Wildfire Management Strategies | New Video Shows Projects that Protect the Sagebrush Sea
August 19, 2015
A new video by Steve Stuebner shows how fire prevention policies and ambitious rangeland restoration strategies are working to protect prime sage grouse ...
News
High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus on Sage Grouse Habitat
April 7, 2015
Science to Solutions: High-Res Maps Sharpen Focus On Sage Grouse Habitat A new technique called Earth Sense Technology (EST) is ...
News
California: National Public Lands Day Volunteers Apply Tangible Sage Grouse Conservation Actions in the Bodie Hills
October 6, 2014
Sage grouse and historic buildings both benefit from dual volunteer activities- report on National Public Lands Day from SGI Partner Bodie Hills Conservation ...
News
Interior Secretary Jewell Weathers Rain & Winds to See Landscape-Level Conservation Project for Sage Grouse in Oregon
September 26, 2014
U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell weathers rain and wind to see landscape-level restoration for sage grouse near Lakeview, Oregon --featuring Sage Grouse Initiative and ...
News
New publication helps land managers strategically reduce wildfire and invasive species threats in sagebrush ecosystem
September 8, 2014
Wildfire and invasive species pose great challenges to the future of sage grouse and the sagebrush ecosystems of the West. Today, managers have new strategies to reduce the ...
News
Sage Grouse Champions: Bi-State Local Area Working Group
July 21, 2014
"The Bi-State Local Area Working Group has provided the foundation upon which effective long-term sage grouse conservation can build," said Tony Wasley, director of the Nevada ...
News
BLM Fire Program to Focus on Sage Grouse Conservation
July 19, 2014
Fire is one of the major threats to the future of sage grouse habitat, especially in the great basin. The sage grouse initiative works with the BLM and other agencies closely ...
News
USDA Announces Landmark Commitment to Improve Bi-State Sage Grouse Habitat: Nevada-California Ranchers to Benefit
June 20, 2014
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA’s landmark agreement to accelerate and focus conservation efforts benefitting ranchers and the Bi-State ...
News
BLM-Idaho Nominates Burley Landscape Sage Grouse Habitat Restoration Project
January 13, 2014
Protecting the habitat of the sage-grouse, an iconic Western land-dwelling bird, is becoming an increasing priority, making the work of groups such as the Burley Landscape ...