How does the conference report affect landowners?
The conclusion in the conference report lets landowners know that should either species be listed at a future date, they can continue implementing those NRCS conservation practices and associated conservation measures designed to benefit the species within their NRCS conservation plan. How will the sage-grouse benefit? Sage-grouse depend upon a landscape dominated by sagebrush. Through the decades, sagebrush habitats have been altered to such a degree that populations have decreased dramatically and are continuing to decline as many of the threats of the past continue, and new threats, such as West Nile virus, emerge. As farmers and ranchers collectively implement conservation practices that specifically reduce threats to the species by improving habitat quality and extent, removing structures and fences that can cause mortality, and control invasive species and replace with native ones, both species of sage-grouse are anticipated to respond positively to site specific changes. As more
