Photo: Noppadol Paothong
conservation
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.
Publication Alert
Getting to the Core: SGI Evaluates 12 years of Conservation through the Lens of the Sagebrush Conservation Design
October 15, 2024
SGI’s proactive, voluntary conservation model has conserved sagebrush cores but analysis shows more work to be done on invasive annual ...
News
From Bird To Biome: Keeping the range intact for wildlife and people
September 27, 2024
Learn more about our shift from species-specific conservation to biome-centric ...
Podcast
Podcast: BOSH Project Restores Sagebrush Sea at Grand Scale
September 25, 2024
The BOSH Project is the largest restoration project in the sagebrush biome. Learn how it came together, what it's acheived, and what's next in this great podcast from The Art ...
Publication Alert
New science incorporates genetics and connectivity into sage grouse conservation
March 8, 2023
New research adds connectivity to sage grouse conservation strategies, opening new opportunities for conserving travel pathways that facilitate gene flow among sage grouse ...
News
New Year, New Connections, New Opportunities
January 26, 2022
With two Frameworks for Conservation Action addressing the most pressing threats facing the sagebrush and Great Plains grassland biomes, 2022 promises to be a big year for ...
News
Great Plains Grasslands Framework in Focus: Wildlife Conservation Through Sustainable Ranching
April 22, 2021
Dig into the Framework for Conservation Action in the Great Plains Grasslands ...
News
USDA-NRCS Press Release: New Frameworks Guide Conservation Action on America’s Working Rangelands
April 6, 2021
Learn about the new Framework for Conservation Action in the Sagebrush Biome through this post and a webinar on April 8th, ...
News
Working Lands Snapshot | WILDFLOWERS
March 18, 2021
Learn all about wildflowers, also called forbs, in this Western Working Lands ...
News
A Conservation Dream Come True
March 2, 2021
This story originally appeared in Nebraskaland Magazine, the magazine of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Reposted here with permission.
News
A Landowner’s Journey to Using Prescribed Fire – Repost – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
December 9, 2020
Jim Jenkins worked to remove eastern redcedar trees from his Nebraska ranch for years, with limited success. Then he learned about how prescribed fire could do the work for ...
News
Ask an Expert | Mitch Faulkner, 2020 Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, Talks Partnerships and More
May 27, 2020
Mitch Faulkner, 2020 NRCS Rangeland Management Specialist of the Year, talks about the partnerships that have advanced rangeland conservation across boundaries in South ...
News
Western Working Lands Snapshot | The Great Basin
May 13, 2020
Learn about the fascinating topography, natural history, and conservation challenges within the Great Basin, a huge swath of western rangeland in Nevada, Idaho, California, ...
News
Ask an Expert | When it comes to sage grouse habitat: Don’t sweat the small stuff
February 27, 2020
Ask a Expert | When it Comes to Sage Grouse Habitat, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: A Conversation with Joe Smith, Working Lands for Wildlife ...
News
Conserving prairies for chickens helps millions of songbirds too
July 18, 2019
Science to Solutions | New research shows that implementing conservation practices like prescribed grazing increases songbird populations in the southern Great Plains, while ...
News
Western Working Lands for Wildlife 2019 Workshop – Rangeland Resiliency
June 25, 2019
Read about the workshop and conference in Twin Falls, Idaho and follow along with the second-day field tour across Idaho and ...
News
Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon For Wildlife And Livestock
June 12, 2019
Sustainable Ranching in Utah: A Boon for Wildlife and Livestock | Read how Stephen and Kris Ellis keep their family tradition alive and strong on the Circle Bar ...
Ask an Expert
Sage Grouse Populations Grow When Conifers are Removed
May 14, 2019
Ask an Expert - Andrew Olsen explains his research that shows sage grouse populations rise 12% following sustained and targeted conifer ...
News
Big Picture of Woodland Management in Sagebrush Country
May 9, 2019
Science to Solutions - New research highlights reduction and expansion of conifer encroachment in sagebrush ...
News
Woody Invasion Impacts Water on Great Plains
March 26, 2019
Science to Solutions - New research details impacts to water from encroaching eastern redcedar and other conifers on landscapes in the Great Plains. Similar impacts occur on ...
News
Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for Conservation
March 6, 2019
Ask an Expert: Dr. Brady Allred, Associate Professor of Rangeland Ecology, University of Montana | Patterns in Rangeland Productivity and Land Ownership and What They Mean for ...
News
How Can Emerging Technology Help Conserve Rangeland?
December 5, 2018
Research scientist Dr. Matthew Jones explains how cloud computing and machine learning are changing the way we visualize and manage ...
News
Oregon Ranchers Sustain “Heart Of The Desert”
November 12, 2018
Maintaining an “emerald island” in the middle of the desert is no small task. Here’s how the Fitzgeralds do it on their Oregon ...
News
Partnering To Conserve A Sagebrush Landscape
October 24, 2018
Innovative partnerships with private landowners and public land managers on working rangelands in Southwest Montana are conserving sagebrush ...
News
NEW SCIENCE | Middle Ground Found On The Range
September 27, 2018
New research shows grazing access to public lands in the western U.S. can be good for ranching and ...
News
New Technology For Landowners And Resource Managers Revolutionizes Rangeland Monitoring
September 18, 2018
by Justin Fritscher, NRCS | New free app provides the first-ever vegetation cover maps for rangelands from the Great Plains to the Pacific ...
News
What Is Low-Tech Stream Restoration?
August 27, 2018
River expert Joe Wheaton explains how simple, cost-effective, hand-built structures are helping repair streams across the ...
News
Range Conservation Across Continents: What Australia and America Have In Common
August 6, 2018
Field tour in Wyoming illustrates how voluntary conservation strategies working on behalf of America's sage grouse can also help Australia's ...
News
Combatting Cheatgrass On Private Ranch Lands In Wyoming Benefits Sage Grouse
July 1, 2018
Learn how Wyoming landowner DeWitt Morris is working with the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative to create a model for other ranchers on how to thwart invasive cheatgrass on ...
News
Lessons & Photos from SGI’s 8th Annual Workshop: Combating Wildfire & Weeds
June 18, 2018
The 2018 SGI field tour and presentations focused on cooperative, science-based conservation that's working to thwart fire and invasives in sagebrush ...
News
#FridaysOnTheFarm: Restoring Sagebrush Country With ‘Modern Wildfire’
June 8, 2018
Through the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI), private landowners across Eastern Oregon are volunteering to perform proactive conservation treatments on their rangeland to promote ...
News
NEW SCIENCE: Visualizing Sage Grouse Habitat As “Hubs & Spokes”
May 17, 2018
New research helps prioritize sage grouse conservation by ranking the importance of leks to the species' overall genetic connectivity across the range, likening certain areas ...
News
Idaho Models “3 C’s”: Collaboration, Cooperation, Conservation
May 8, 2018
In Idaho, agencies and landowners are working together across boundaries to restore sagebrush ...
News
Harnessing Technology Improves Conservation Effectiveness
March 20, 2018
Innovative Web App increases conservation effectiveness on working lands in the American West by matching the right practices to the right places using emerging science and ...
News
30 Videos Now Available on Science & Management in Sagebrush Country
February 15, 2018
View free, on-demand replays on YouTube of educational presentations about the science and management of sagebrush ...
News
New Online Tool Shows Songbird Abundance Across Sagebrush Country
January 16, 2018
Check out the latest map additions to the SGI Web App, which allow users to easily visualize songbird distribution, bolstering multi-species conservation across the American ...
News
Bats, Butterflies, Bobwhites and More! New Videos About Working Lands For Wildlife
December 19, 2017
Learn how NRCS has been scaling up the cooperative, science-based conservation model that's working for sagebrush wildlife to focal landscapes across ...
News
FAIR CHASE Magazine | The Value of Sagebrush Country
December 8, 2017
by Josh Millspaugh | This feature in the December 2017 issue of Fair Chase Magazine highlights how sage grouse conservation benefits hunters and a host of wildlife ...
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
What’s It Like To Photograph Sage Grouse?
October 23, 2017
Wildlife photographer, Noppadol Paothong, spent 5 years on his newly released book, Sage Grouse: Icon of the West. Learn how and why he created this beautiful book featuring ...
News
BUGLE Magazine | Sage Grouse + Elk = Peanut Butter & Jelly
October 19, 2017
Bugle Magazine, a publication of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, published this feature story on the value of conserving sagebrush country in its Nov/Dec 2017 ...
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
Webinar: Estimating The Economic Impact Of Sage Grouse Conservation On Ranches
September 15, 2017
When: Friday, September 29, 2017 | 10:00 AM MST Host: University of Wyoming Watch the On-Demand Replay ...
Ask An Expert
Do Elk Need Sagebrush?
September 11, 2017
Historically, elk were found in all but five states in the U.S. However, due to over-hunting, elk populations declined from more than 10 million to less than 100,000 by 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
Grazing Management In Perspective: A Compatible Tool For Sage Grouse Conservation
August 28, 2017
New research shows that — done right — livestock grazing may help conserve sage grouse habitat by keeping working ranches profitable and ...
News
New State of the Birds Report: Farm Bill Pays Off For People & Birds
August 10, 2017
The Farm Bill is America’s single largest source of conservation funding for private lands. The 2017 'State of the Birds' report shows the many benefits its programs have ...
News
Meet Greg: A Sagebush Habitat Hero
June 27, 2017
by Jodi Stemler | Check out this multimedia story about how an SGI-enrolled rancher is leading the way in stewarding working lands and wildlife on his ranch in Colorado's ...
News
Stewardship With Vision | David Spicer Conserves Habitat In Nevada
June 23, 2017
Nevada rancher and miner shares his story of why he believes in conserving Nevada's Oasis Valley in a new video produced by the Western Landowners ...
News
“Ranching Gone Right,” Thanks To Partners Like The Nature Conservancy
May 8, 2017
As a valued partner in the Sage Grouse Initiative, The Nature Conservancy works with landowners across the range on innovative grazing systems, conservation easements, and ...
News
Chords For Conservation: Music Inspired By The Sagebrush Sea
March 6, 2017
Listen to this just-released song by the River Whyless -- featuring a new instrument created in honor of the sage grouse -- which was inspired by the band's experiences in the ...
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
Realizing “The True Potential” For Working Lands And Wildlife In Sagebrush Country
November 2, 2016
The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative continues to build field capacity, expand our science team, and strengthen partnerships across the sagebrush landscape. Read our latest ...
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
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
Report: Maintaining Sagebrush-Covered Landscapes Keeps Water on the Land for Ranchers and Wildlife
August 4, 2016
by Justin Fritscher | Removing invading conifer trees improves the health of sagebrush ecosystems, providing better habitat for wildlife and better forage for livestock. And ...
News
Helmick Family Conserves Vital Habitat For Sage Grouse In Idaho
July 28, 2016
To this multi-generational family, conservation and ranching are one and the same. Learn how they've worked with SGI to increase carrying capacity and grass production for the ...
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
New Web-Based Tool Helps Save Sage Grouse From Fence Collisions
July 14, 2016
SGI's interactive web app now features a map layer that helps land managers prioritize where to mark high-risk fences to protect birds. This user-friendly tool allows ranchers ...
News
SGI Introduces New Resources That Show Why Roots Matter in the Sage-Steppe
April 21, 2016
In the West's sagebrush sea, most of the plant matter grows below your feet -- just like an upside-down forest. SGI is releasing a new poster and postcard that show the ...
News
Conservation Integral At O’Tooles’ Ladder Ranch in Wyoming
April 19, 2016
Pat and Sharon O’Toole make their living by ranching on the sagebrush sea along the Wyoming-Colorado border. They raise sheep and cattle, sage grouse and trout, as well as ...
News
Montana Outdoors Magazine | “Ranching the Best Hope for Grassland Songbirds”
March 18, 2016
by Catherine Wightman | Ranchers manage their land to sustain grass production, which benefits bovines and birds on Montana's agricultural ...
News
Growing Spirit of Collaboration, Partnership & Innovation is “The West at its Best”
March 15, 2016
By Jason Weller and Larry Selzer | This opinion article by USDA-NRCS Chief Weller and The Conservation Fund President and CEO, Larry Selzer describes how the Sage Grouse ...
News
CSU Researcher’s Work Boosts Sage Grouse Conservation Project
March 9, 2016
by Mary Guiden | “The new web app and map make sure people on the ground have the best science," says Dave Naugle, SGI Science ...
News
Partnerships on the Range Continue to Accelerate Conservation
February 2, 2016
Our team of dedicated and enthusiastic range conservationists, wildlife biologists, and natural resource specialists make a difference for landowners and for wildlife across ...
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
Human Connections Drive Habitat Conservation
December 1, 2015
By Tiffany Russell | This blog is about connecting people to talk about how wildlife and humans can thrive together. It describes a recent Ranch Conservation Tour, co-hosted ...
News
Saving Sage Grouse | Conserving Montana’s Largest Game Bird
October 5, 2015
By Brianna Randall. Stamping my feet on the frozen ground, I waited impatiently for an elusive football-sized bird to appear in the murky pre-dawn light. A spotting scope ...
News
Building Bridges | Ranchers Are Stewards of the Land
September 20, 2015
In recent years, a new appreciation is taking hold in the West about the role and benefits of sustainable ranching. The article below captures the essence of why we believe ...
News
Ranchers and Conservationists Combine to Help Sage Grouse
September 18, 2015
Two national conservation leaders from the USDA-NRCS and the National Audubon Society co-wrote this recent editorial about how targeted, proactive conservation on agricultural ...
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
New Sage Grouse Strategy Unveiled: $760 Million Invested by 2018
August 27, 2015
The Sage Grouse Initiative has enrolled 1,129 ranchers to conserve 4.4 million acres. We plan to double those numbers by 2018 with a new investment strategy that invests ...
News
Where the Sage Grouse Roam: Ranching for Conservation in Colorado
June 29, 2015
This story on Colorado rancher Wes McStay's conservation practices comes from "Where the sage grouse roam" by Lauren Blair. This 3-part series appeared in the Craig Daily ...
News
National Geographic Story: Can Sage-Grouse Be Saved Without Shutting Down the West?
May 26, 2015
Last week, National Geographic Magazine featured an in-depth story on sage grouse, including SGI's conservation efforts centered around these dwindling upland ...
News
New SGI Science to Solutions Report: Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer
March 31, 2015
Sage grouse habitat conservation protects critical habitat for mule deer, according to a study highlighted in the newest Sage Grouse Initiative Science to Solutions ...
News
Sage Grouse Conservation Benefits Migratory Mule Deer
March 15, 2015
This report shows how habitat conservation for sage grouse, considered an umbrella species, can also protect critical habitat for mule deer. Scientists found that sage grouse ...
News
SGI “Outcomes in Conservation” Report Demonstrates Positive Impact of $300 Million Investment in West
March 12, 2015
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today issued a report showing that since 2010 USDA and its partners in the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) have worked with ...
News
SGI Webinar: Intro to Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation in the U.S.
February 25, 2015
Listen as Sage Grouse Initiative range conservationist Kelsey Molloy explains how partners work to conserve the Greater Sage-Grouse in the Western ...
News
Webinar on Sage Grouse Conservation from 2010-2015
February 18, 2015
This webinar from NRCS Chief Jason Weller shows maps and metrics detailing the remarkable conservation success story of the Sage Grouse Initiative to ...
News
USDA Sage-Grouse Conservation Efforts to Continue and Grow
February 16, 2015
The NRCS Chief explains how the Sage Grouse Initiative has become a model for voluntary, incentive-based conservation at its best over the past 5 ...
News
Private Lands Vital to Conserving Wet Areas for Sage Grouse Summer Habitat
October 30, 2014
An impressive 85% of leks (sage grouse breeding areas) cluster within six miles of wet summer habitats. Successful sage grouse conservation will hinge on cooperative ...
News
Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
June 19, 2014
This recent study by The Nature Conservancy, University of Wyoming and the Sage Grouse Initiative finds that Wyoming’s strategy, combined with targeted conservation ...
News
Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy
June 16, 2014
Read the Press Release here. Download the PDF of the Science to Solutions report “Predicting the Outcome of Wyoming’s Sage Grouse ...