Photo courtesy of the BLM.

Photo courtesy of the BLM.

Support Collaborative Conservation

Voluntary, proactive, and coordinated sagebrush conservation efforts have proven to be an effective and durable method for sustaining wildlife, agriculture, and the economic vitality of western communities while reducing the need for Endangered Species Act listing and other regulatory actions. Through cross-boundary habitat improvements on public and private lands, diverse partnerships are able to support multiple wildlife species and maintain healthy and connected watersheds.

Sometimes “win-win” conservation solutions can be elusive or challenging to achieve when it comes to meeting biological and social goals at the landscape scale. However, there are many examples where communities, agencies, tribes, and other public and private stakeholders are achieving balance from a social-ecological perspective.

Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands is just one example of the many collaborative conservation efforts working in sagebrush country. There are national, regional, state-based, and local partnerships in all corners of the West enacting incredible, durable conservation. If you are seeking ways to get involved in your area, please reach out to us and we can help connect you to collaboratives happening in your area on these issues. Some examples of these groups include:

Local

  • Rangeland Fire Protection Associations

  • Cooperative Weed Management and Conservation Districts

  • Sage Grouse Local Area Working Groups

  • Community conservation partnerships

  • Local watershed groups

  • Non-governmental, state and federal agency associations

State/Regional

  • Statewide invasives initiatives

  • NRCS Sage Grouse Initiative

  • Migratory Bird Joint Ventures

  • Western Collaborative Conservation Network

  • Non-governmental, state and federal agency associations

Photo courtesy of Ben Hamilton.

Photo courtesy of Ben Hamilton.

Keys to successful collaborative conservation from Conserving the Greater Sage-Grouse: A Social-Ecological Systems Case Study from the California-Nevada Region:

●      Be proactive and create a system-wide partnership of local and influential stakeholders before a major conservation challenge arises, such as a species listing or other regulatory actions are required.

●      Develop a trustworthy process with inclusivity, meaningful stakeholder engagement, and a coordinating entity that helps to sustain the collaborative, and create an adaptive governance approach with substantial technical and financial commitments that help to ensure the effort is durable and lasting.

●      While the major challenge brought everyone to the table, the partners can continue adopting a systems approach as a best way to maintain a healthy sagebrush ecosystem.