Pew Supports Management Plans for Greater Sage-Grouse in Colorado and Oregon
New Bureau of Land Management provisions will aid the bird population’s recovery and sustainability
WASHINGTON—On Jan. 17, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management moved to protect the greater sage-grouse when they released records of decision for management plans for the bird and its habitat areas in Oregon and Colorado.
The greater sage-grouse is an indicator species of the health of an area known as the Sagebrush Sea, a territory spanning roughly 69 million acres across the American West that supports more than 350 other species of wildlife, such as pronghorn and mule deer. Recent research by the U.S. Geological Survey revealed an 80% decrease in the greater sage-grouse population since 1965, including a 41% drop since 2002. The bird’s population has declined over 87% of its range in the past two decades, primarily because of loss, degradation, and fragmentation of the bird’s habitat.
Communities in the Western U.S. have demonstrated strong support for protecting the greater sage-grouse: Most recently, in a June 2024 public opinion poll of registered voters from across the political spectrum in counties where sage-grouse live, more than 90% of respondents said that protecting sage-grouse habitat is important, not only to protect the bird itself but also to generate economic benefits to local communities through more opportunities for hunting, wildlife viewing, and camping.
Marcia Argust, a director with Pew’s U.S. conservation project, issued this statement:
“Pew commends the years of work by states and the Bureau of Land Management to formulate these plans in Oregon and Colorado. The plans contain important provisions to help ensure stable populations of greater sage-grouse into the future.
“While these two states represent only a portion of the bird’s habitat, these actions are a step in the right direction for the recovery of the bird. It’s essential to complete and implement management plans for all relevant states to prevent further population declines of this important bird across its full range.
“It’s vital that the best available science and the years of work with states and other stakeholders across the West are honored. We look forward to working with the incoming administration to build on the important work of the many stakeholders involved.”