Colorado Division of Wildlife
Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan Signed
Regional and state directors from the Bureau of Land
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Colorado Division of
Wildlife (DOW) were on-hand at the DOW Headquarters in Denver today to
sign the Colorado Greater Sage-grouse Conservation Plan.
The plan is designed to guide and facilitate the conservation of greater
sage-grouse and their habitats. It identifies broad measures and
strategies for the grouse, addressing threats that contribute to
population declines, and recognizes the important conservation role played
by local working groups. Local working groups consist of private
landowners, public agency representatives and other interested
stakeholders.
The plan has been in development for the past 2 ˝ years, and is a
compendium of information about Colorado populations of greater
sage-grouse as well as analysis of threats facing them. A steering
committee comprised of the signatory agencies developed the plan in
partnership with an advisory committee made up of representatives from
local working groups. Collectively, the federal agencies and DOW are
responsible for the management of sage-grouse populations and habitat on
public land, encouraging sage-grouse conservation on private lands, and
conserving the species such that federal listing protection does not
become necessary. Colorado’s effort is part of a larger conservation
effort by state and federal wildlife agencies across 12 western states.
“The conservation of our sage-grouse requires active collaboration among
our public and private partners at both the local and regional level to
implement on-the-ground conservation actions.” said Tom Remington,
Director of the DOW. “For wide-ranging wildlife species, these
multi-state, multi-agency partnerships on public and private lands
represent the future of conservation planning. This plan will ensure that
the best possible science and analysis will guide those conservation
efforts”
"This state-wide conservation plan signals a strong commitment by all
partners to maintain and improve the sagebrush ecosystem for the benefit
of all sagebrush-dependent species,” said Steve Guertin, USFWS Director of
the Mountain-Prairie Region. “I commend Federal and state agencies as well
as the local working groups for their ongoing efforts to develop and
implement conservation strategies that will not only benefit the Greater
sage-grouse but numerous other species that utilize sagebrush habitats for
all or part of their life cycles."
Greater sage-grouse are designated by the DOW as a state Species of
Concern. The species was petitioned for listing under the Endangered
Species Act and its status is undergoing review by the US Fish and
Wildlife Service to determine whether federal listing is needed.
Greater sage-grouse are the largest grouse in North America. Males are
known for two large air-sacks on their chest that are inflated in
elaborate courtship displays. Sage-grouse are found in areas where
sagebrush is abundant. Sagebrush provides food and cover for the birds.
During the winter months, sage provides the entire diet for sage-grouse,
so the protection of quality sagebrush habitats is critically important
for the species.
For additional information on greater sage-grouse and to view a copy of
Colorado’s Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan please visit:
www.wildlife.state.co.us.
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