Number: 2015-04
WHEREAS, the sage-grouse is an iconic species of the West, an indicator of the health of sagebrush habitats and an important game species; and
WHEREAS, conservation of the sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats benefits other game species, such as mule deer and pronghorn, and many Species of Greatest Conservation Need, as well as lifestyles and the economies of western states; and
WHEREAS, sage-grouse populations across the West have been in decline for decades; and across the range of the species, numbers have declined by approximately 90%, and habitat has declined drastically with much of the remaining habitat in degraded condition;
WHEREAS, there are numerous causes of these population declines, including conversion of sagebrush habitats by crop production, wildfire, overgrazing, West Nile virus, invasive species, and energy development; and
WHEREAS, the greater sage-grouse has been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been directed to make a decision on whether to list the greater sage-grouse under the ESA by September 30, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the threat of listing has prompted states, federal land-management agencies, the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and many private landowners to take positive action on behalf of sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management is amending its land-use plans across the range of sage-grouse to develop stronger standards and guidelines for its management; and
WHEREAS, NRCS, working through the Sage-Grouse Initiative, has signed contracts for protecting and improving sage-grouse habitat with over 6,000 landowners in the West; and
WHEREAS many states have developed plans for recovering and managing sage-grouse populations; and
WHEREAS, the refinement, implementation and underwriting of these plans will take many years; and
WHEREAS, to ensure sage-grouse recovery these plans may require modification over time based on subsequent monitoring and research.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports the efforts of state, federal and private entities to conserve both sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon Congress and the legislatures in states with sage-grouse populations to adequately fund conservation, monitoring, research and restoration efforts on behalf of sage-grouse.