Department of the Interior proposes updates to protect sage-grouse habitat

The Department of the Interior announced today proposed updates to strengthen conservation and management of greater sage-grouse habitat on public lands. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will implement these updates across 10 Western states, aiming to balance conservation efforts with continued resource use.

The proposed updates, based on scientific research and collaborative input from various stakeholders, aim to address the decline of sage-grouse populations caused by habitat loss and climate change. The BLM manages a significant portion of sage-grouse habitat and seeks to protect it while considering other uses, such as renewable energy projects.

The department emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts with state, local, tribal and federal partners in developing these proposed updates. Public comments were also considered in the decision-making process.

“Guided by the best available science, we are committed to the continued balance in our multi-use mandate for America’s public lands,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “For too long, a false choice has been presented for land management that aims to pit development against conservation. This administration’s collaborative work has demonstrated that we can do both successfully.”

The public has until Dec. 9 to submit protests against the proposed amendments. Information on filing a protest is available at https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/public-participation/filing-a-plan-protest. Following the resolution of protests and state reviews, the BLM will issue final decisions for each state.

The department also highlighted its ongoing efforts to restore and conserve sagebrush habitat through initiatives like the Sagebrush Keystone Initiative and the National Seed Strategy Keystone Initiative. These initiatives aim to enhance landscape resilience and support the ecosystem’s health.