Senior Regional Fish and Wildlife Scientists
Recommend Sage-Grouse Not be Listed as Threatened or Endangered Range-Wide
-News Release, US Fish & Wildlife
Service, December 3, 2004
Senior Regional Fish and Wildlife Scientists
Recommend Sage-Grouse Not be Listed as Threatened or Endangered Range-Wide
-News Release, US Fish & Wildlife
Service, December 3, 2004
Based on an extensive review of scientific data and analysis, senior regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists have recommended that the Service not list the greater sage-grouse as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act across its range, Service Director Steve Williams announced today.
The Service’s regional directors and senior
scientists this week completed the written scientific analysis and recommendation,
which is currently being finalized by technical staff before being made
available to Williams. He will review the recommendation before making
a decision on whether to propose the species for listing by December 29.
“Our biologists have conducted a thorough
review of the best available scientific information and, in their view,
recommend that the greater sage-grouse does not warrant the special protections
of the Act across its range,” Williams said.
Williams said the best solution for conserving the greater sage-grouse is for federal agencies and western states to continue to support cooperative efforts to conserve and restore sage-grouse habitat.
“Together we have worked effectively with local governments, tribes, local communities, conservation groups, private landowners and other partners to conserve and restore sagebrush habitat that is vital to sage grouse and many other species,” Williams said. “We must continue — and wherever possible expand — these efforts to achieve measurable, on-the-ground habitat conservation and restoration.”
The Service received three petitions to list the greater sage-grouse range-wide as endangered or threatened. In April 2004, the Service announced that the petitions presented substantial information that listing may be warranted and began a full status review of the greater sage-grouse.
During the status review of the species, the Service is evaluating all the available scientific and commercial information on greater sage-grouse and their habitats, including all information provided by State and Federal agencies and Tribes, as well as information provided through the public comment process. The review of relevant materials includes the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Conservation Assessment of Greater Sage-grouse and Sagebrush Habitats issued in June 2004, which is a compilation of sage-grouse and sagebrush literature and data.
Currently, state fish and wildlife agencies have jurisdiction to manage greater sage-grouse. These agencies and federal agencies are developing conservation plans to address issues such as habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation and to identify opportunities for habitat restoration and enhancement. Current sagebrush habitat is estimated at 100-150 million acres - 54 percent of historic acreage.
The Service is using a structured analysis process to evaluate the factors affecting greater sage-grouse populations and their sagebrush habitats. As part of this process, expert scientists from state and federal agencies and universities participated in a facilitated discussion on the biology and ecology of sage-grouse and sagebrush ecosystem. The scientists were also asked to apply their expert judgment to estimate the extinction risk for greater sage-grouse at various timeframes into the future. However, these scientists were not asked for and did not make recommendations on the listing decision. Their estimates and discussions occurred in the presence of a team of Service senior-level biologists in order to help ensure these biologists were aware of a diverse range of scientific points of view. The outside scientists included experts in greater sage-grouse, plant ecology, rangeland health, and invasive species.
Under the Endangered Species Act, an “endangered”
species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion
of its range; a “threatened” species is likely to become
Contact us today for a free consultation about the management of your forestlands, marketing of your timber products, wildfire control efforts, or prescribed burning needs. We also provide the region's best wildlife management, watershed management, and forest regeneration services. Explore our site and let us know how we can best serve you!