Photo: Noppadol Paothong
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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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PHEASANTS FOREVER Magazine | Of Partners, Promises and Prairie Treasures – LPCI
February 13, 2020
Magazine Story | Pheasants Forever's Spring 2020 Journal of Upland Conservation features how the nonprofit works with LPCI and other partners to benefit a variety of grouse ...
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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 ...
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How Do Mule Deer Use Sagebrush?
February 5, 2019
Miles Moretti of the Mule Deer Foundation tells us how mule deer use sagebrush country and why MDF is partnering to conserve western ...
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1,800 Ranchers and Counting!
December 18, 2018
As 2018 comes to a close, the Sage Grouse Initiative caught up with Tim Griffiths, NRCS’s Western Working Lands for Wildlife Coordinator, for a glance back and a peek ...
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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 ...
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NEW Story Map Highlights Rural Communities & Positive Partnerships
June 28, 2018
Check out this new story map that highlights the people working together across sagebrush rangeland to protect the places that matter to ...
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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 ...
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Idaho Models “3 C’s”: Collaboration, Cooperation, Conservation
May 8, 2018
In Idaho, agencies and landowners are working together across boundaries to restore sagebrush ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Military, Conservationists, Rancher Join Forces For Economy And Wildlife In Nevada
September 12, 2017
The NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative partners with the Dept. of Defense and others to conserve the Smith Creek Ranch in the heart of Nevada’s sagebrush ...
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 ...
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Ranch Conservation Partnership Thrives In Eastern Montana
August 7, 2017
by Leo Barthelmess | Ranchers working with the NRCS and others are helping sustain and improve habitat in a way that also improves ranch ...
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Keeping Water In Colorado’s Gunnison Basin
June 12, 2017
A collaborative partnership using innovative techniques to restore wet meadows in the Gunnison Basin is paying off for people and ...
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“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 ...
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How Do Conservation Easements Work?
April 20, 2017
In Montana, landowners have partnered with local land trusts to conserve 2 million acres. Expert Lisa McCauley from NRCS explains why easements work for ranchers and ...
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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 ...
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Operation Sage-Grouse: NWF Connects Youth and Conservation
March 13, 2017
Check out this video from the National Wildlife Federation on win-win partnerships that are making the skies safer for sage grouse through fence ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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" ...
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Latest Report Shows Promising Progress To Protect The Sagebrush Sea
August 9, 2016
This latest report chronicles the results from April through June across 11 western states, including collaborative efforts to conserve over 2.8 million acres of habitat for ...
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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 ...
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Partnership Positions Allow NRCS To Double The Amount of Conservation In The West
May 10, 2016
Thanks to hundreds of partners who help us achieve wildlife conservation through sustainable ranching, the Sage Grouse Initiative, has proven to be a model for cooperative, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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The Sage-Grouse’s Next Dance | What the Recent Decision Means for the Bird and Conservation
October 6, 2015
By Holly Copeland. “So what is your take on the sage-grouse ruling?” This beautiful dancing bird has been in my thoughts almost daily for the past nine years, as it has ...
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New England Cottontail | Another Success Story for Proactive Voluntary Conservation
September 11, 2015
Landowners on the East Coast brought about a major success today with their voluntary conservation efforts for the New England cottontail. Partners announced that foresters ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Service Learning For Sage Grouse | University Students Deliver Results in California
August 10, 2015
Last month, university students pursuing careers in natural resource conservation participated in a service-learning project that had big benefits for birds, the participants, ...
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Dedicated Field Staff Make a Difference for Sage Grouse West-wide
August 5, 2015
SGI's Strategic Watershed Action Team’s dedicated and enthusiastic range conservationists, wildlife biologists, and natural resource specialists put in place plenty of ...
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Marking Fences Saves Lives in Sage Grouse Country
August 4, 2015
The article below was adapted from this post written by Ron Francis and Lori Valadez, which appeared on the USDA Blog. In the ...
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Unprecedented Conservation Partnership Keeps Bi-State Sage Grouse Off Endangered Species List
April 21, 2015
On the California-Nevada state line, a geographically distinct population of sage grouse once faced a precarious future. Today, that's changed. The decision by the USFWS that ...