By Jamie Martin
The Bureau of Land Management has announced updated greater sage grouse management plans that amend 77 land use plans across western states. These revisions aim to improve wildlife conservation while supporting responsible land use and rural land managers.
Sage grouse require healthy sagebrush landscapes to survive. Ranchers have long played a vital role in managing these lands through grazing practices that support plant balance and reduce fire risks. The updated plans officially recognize grazing as a valuable conservation tool.
Grazing helps limit excessive plant growth and reduces dry vegetation that can fuel wildfires. Wildfires can destroy sage grouse nesting areas and food supplies. By managing vegetation, grazing helps maintain safer and more productive wildlife habitats.
“The revised sage grouse management plans recognize the role of cattle producers, as the original conservationists and follows the best available science. Without ranchers actively managing millions of acres of western rangeland, there would be less habitat and forage, and grouse populations would be substantially smaller,” said NCBA President and Nebraska cattleman Buck Wehrbein.
“This is the blueprint for how management plans should be revised in the future, with a bottom-up approach focusing on input from land managers and rural communities that live alongside wildlife including grouse. NCBA thanks the BLM and Trump administration for releasing these plans that greatly utilize stakeholder input," said Wehrbein.
The revised plans also introduce a more flexible, locally guided conservation model. Because sage grouse habitat varies widely by region, the new approach allows state leaders, grazing permit holders, and local experts to shape conservation strategies that meet regional needs.
This ensures conservation decisions are guided by real land conditions and scientific knowledge. It also strengthens cooperation between government agencies and rural communities.
The updated framework reduces unnecessary regulatory barriers that previously limited conservation work. Ranchers can continue habitat improvement, weed control, and wildfire prevention without facing added restrictions.
Overall, the new sage grouse management plans support balanced conservation. They protect wildlife, strengthen rural communities, and improve long-term land health across the western United States. These efforts help ensure sage grouse populations and rangeland ecosystems remain strong for future generations.
“The revised sage grouse management plans will support the work of ranchers across the West, as we work to create optimal habitat for sage grouse. These plans unleash the conservation prowess of federal lands ranchers and allow critical conservation work that supports grouse habitat to continue without burdensome government red tape,” said PLC President and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury.
“Previous administrations have wanted to use these management plans to tie up millions of acres of land and let them further degrade. That would not have helped boost sage grouse numbers and it is flat out unscientific. Ranchers throughout the West are thankful for the Trump administration and BLM leadership for releasing these detailed plans to the benefit of sage grouse and ranchers alike,” said Canterbury.
Photo Credit: gettyimage-jamesbrey
Categories: National