Sage Grouse Initiative Can Help Fund Habitat Improvements

Boise, Idaho, April 18, 2018 –The Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Sage Grouse Initiative helps fund work to improve sage grouse habitat in Idaho. Interested landowners must apply for this year’s funding by May 25, 2018. The initiative focuses on improving rangeland to support both healthy sage grouse populations and sustainable ranching. “Putting specific conservation practices in place can improve sage grouse habitat or reduce threats to bird survival,” said Jerry Raynor, Acting NRCS State Conservationist for Idaho. “The Sage Grouse Initiative gives landowners funding to apply those conservation practices on their property.” Typical habitat improvement practices include seeding rangeland to increase availability of sage-grouse food plants; removing juniper trees in key breeding, brood-rearing and wintering sites to restore sage-grouse habitat; and, including a rest period in grazing systems to improve sage-grouse cover during the nesting season. “The practices that benefit sage grouse habitat also create or maintain healthy grazing land for livestock.” said Raynor. “Through voluntary conservation, we hope to keep the sage grouse off the endangered species list.” For more information on the initiative, contact your local NRCS office or visit our Web site http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/id/home/ and click on the Sage Grouse Initiative link under the Programs heading.