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Why Care About America's Sagebrush?

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Why Care About America's Sagebrush? U.S. U.S.Fish Fish & Wildlife & Wildlife Service Service Why Care About America’s Sagebrush? Male pronghorn at a Greater sage-grouse lek / USFWS Introduction Conservation Value The sage-steppe ecosystem of the Functionally, sage-steppe serves as a Despite the significant values it western United States is, to the casual nursery area for a multitude of wildlife provides to wildlife and humans, the eye, an arid and monotonous expanse species. sage-steppe ecosystem is one of the of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate most imperiled ecosystems in America. Nutt.) that early European settlers Human Values Recently, the prospect of a Greater could not wait to traverse on westward Beginning with the Native American sage-grouse Endangered Species Act journeys. Yet, this “flyover country,” peoples who used the sage-steppe for listing has brought additional attention which may appear devoid of life and hunting and other subsistence to the condition of the sage-steppe thus immune to human impact, is in activities, this vast intermountain system. This iconic bird’s habitat has fact the most widespread ecosystem landscape has long held economic value been fragmented by development of type in the United States, one that for humans. As Europeans colonized sagebrush environments and there has teems with wildlife and also contains the West and established large-scale been a considerable loss of suitable other important natural resources that agricultural economies, sagebrush sagebrush habitat to support the bird’s fuel our nation’s economy. Across the communities became – and remain life history, including its needs for food, sage-steppe, a diverse array of – central to livestock grazing cover and nesting space. The partners is working to balance throughout much of the West, fragmentation has been exacerbated development of these resources with especially during winter months, when by invasive weeds, especially sustainable populations of native higher elevation pastures are cheatgrass, which fuels more intense wildlife and arrest the decline of this unavailable due to snow. More wildfires; and, land-management vital place. recently, energy development, first practices that preclude restoration of from conventional sources such as coal, large, contiguous blocs of sagebrush. Dependent Wildlife oil and gas and increasingly, from Indeed, very little of this unique Small mammals such as pygmy rabbits renewable sources such as wind, has ecosystem has been undisturbed or (Brachylagus idahoensis) and emerged as a critical component of the unaltered in the past two centuries. sagebrush voles (Lemmiscus United States’ energy supply. In curtatus), reptiles including the addition, this system supports a Fragmentation of sagebrush habitats sagebrush lizard (Sceloporus variety of recreational activities, can have a particularly acute impact on graciosus) birds of prey such as golden notably hunting for big game species wildlife because in the arid west, food, eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis), and upland birds, which contribute to cover and water resources are and game species such as pronghorn local economies from Colorado’s distributed unequally across the (Antilocapra Americana), mule deer Western Slope to the eastern slope of landscape. This characteristic of (Odocoileus hemionus) and elk the Cascades. Lastly, and while sagebrush means many obligate (Cervus canadensis) all rely on sage- perhaps harder to quantify, the species have evolved to require very steppe habitat. While the diversity of uniquely American aesthetic of the large areas of intact habitat to meet wildlife in sage-steppe ecosystems may “sagebrush sea” occupies a special spot their seasonal and annual resource be less than other ecotypes such as in our natural heritage and reminds us needs. Therefore, a relatively small forests, many species found in all of the wide-open spaces that number of fragmented sagebrush sagebrush, such as the Greater sage- continue to define a large portion of acres can have a disproportionate grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) our national geography and the shared impact on the species that need that live nowhere else in the world. history and culture of the West. particular habitat to survive. Region 6 Mountain-Prairie Region facilitated by the incursion of nonnative energy developments are increasing annual grasses, primarily cheatgrass within the sagebrush ecosystem. (Bromus tectorum) and medusahead (Taeniatherum asperum). The positive Other factors associated with habitat feedback loop between exotic annual loss and fragmentation in the sage- grasses and fires can preclude the steppe ecosystem include conversion of opportunity for sagebrush to become sagebrush habitats for agriculture, the re-established. Exotic annual grasses expanding human populations in the and other invasive plants also alter western United States and the habitat suitability for many species of resulting urban development in Greater sage-grouse male struts for a wildlife, including sage-grouse by sagebrush habitats, vegetation female at a lek / Jeannie Stafford, USFWS reducing or eliminating native treatments resulting in the alteration or The sagebrush that dominates the vegetation essential for food and cover. removal of sagebrush to enhance sage-steppe landscape plays a critical Annual grasses and noxious perennials grazing for livestock, and impacts from role in the hydrologic cycle of the arid continue to expand their range, wild ungulates and free-roaming equids West. Sagebrush itself often serves as facilitated by ground disturbances, (horses and burros). a “nurse” plant for other plants, many including wildfire, improper grazing, of which are important to sustaining agriculture, and infrastructure The Future of the Sage-steppe Ecosystem grazing wildlife and domestic livestock. associated with energy development. While the impacts to the health of the In addition to the hundreds of birds, Climate change may alter the range of sage-steppe ecosystem are widespread mammals, reptiles and amphibians that invasive plants, potentially expanding and persistent, partners ranging from depend on sagebrush, many unique the importance of this threat across the federal land management agencies to insects, spiders, plants and lichens are entire ecosystem. private landowners are increasingly associated with the sagebrush coming together to identify and pursue community. Imperiled wildlife, Habitat loss is also occurring from the strategies to arrest the decline of especially sagebrush obligate species; expansion of native conifers (e.g., sagebrush and dependent species across grazing livestock, especially cattle; and, pinyon-pine (Pinus edulis) and juniper the range. While much of the attention some people whose livelihoods depend (Juniperus spp.) [pinyon-juniper]) in of the conservation community to this on healthy sage-steppe have been part due to changes in fire return effort is currently focused on the impacted by the loss of sage-steppe intervals and the overstocking of Greater sage-grouse, the larger issues ecosystem. Over time, usage of domestic livestock, particularly during underlying the status of the sage- sagebrush by people, especially the latter 1800s and early 1900s. grouse, namely the invasive species- fragmentation of the sagebrush lands, Conifer encroachment may be wildfire nexus and the need to has altered the sage-steppe landscape, facilitated by increases in global carbon responsibly develop energy and other resulting in a loss of the unique dioxide (CO2) concentrations, and natural resources, affect a broad suite of biodiversity associated with this climate change. wildlife and must be successfully habitat type. Consequences for wildlife managed if the sage-steppe ecosystem include declines in the populations of The persistent and increasing demand is to remain a vibrant and functional both game and non-game species. for energy resources means continuous landscape. A growing awareness and Consequences for people include more development of the sage-steppe appreciation for this remarkable place restrictive regulatory scenarios to ecosystem, which results in habitat and its values is an important first step protect wildlife that, in turn, place fragmentation. Fragmentation of in fostering lasting stewardship of this more stringent controls on economic habitat is causing significant reductions uniquely American landscape. activities, especially extractive of wildlife populations, such as Greater U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 activities such as energy and minerals sage-grouse and pronghorn and other PO Box 25486, Denver Federal Center development. sagebrush-dependent species. Although data are limited, impacts Denver, Colorado 80225 http://www.fws.gov Threats resulting from renewable energy Fire is one of the primary factors development are expected to have For State relay service linked to loss of sagebrush-steppe negative effects on sagebrush habitats TTY / Voice: 711 habitat. Loss of sagebrush habitat to due to their similarity in supporting wildfire has been increasing in the infrastructure and that there will likely February 2014 western extent of the ecosystem due to be permanent infrastructure an increase in fire frequency. The developments within the sage-steppe, increase in mean fire frequency in which will have long-lasting impacts. sagebrush ecosystems has been Both non-renewable and renewable Region 6 Mountain-Prairie Region .
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