Conservation, Sporting Groups Urge Bureau of Land Management to Finish Habitat Management Plans for Greater Sage-Grouse 

(Washington, D.C., January 16, 2025)— The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday announced finalized Resource Management Plans for Colorado and Oregon that represent an important step forward in reversing serious declines in Greater Sage-grouse populations across the West. These habitat management plans were crafted after years of collaboration with state, federal, and local partners. Conservation and sporting groups urged the Bureau of Land Management to work with states to finalize the remaining plans and move toward implementation as quickly as possible.   

"We're encouraged to have finalized versions of these plans to manage Greater Sage-grouse habitat in Colorado and Oregon," said Alison Holloran, executive director of Audubon Rockies. "It speaks to the tremendous amount of work by all parties and the shared recognition of the broader value of well-managed public lands. It’s time to refocus energy from talk to action so that we have a chance at saving this bird and the lands that we all cherish." 

“The National Wildlife Federation is pleased to see the Bureau of Land Management make progress toward Greater sage-grouse conservation. These plans mark the end of one chapter of what has been a decades-long effort among federal, state, and local partners to manage sage grouse habitat across the West,” said Bailey Brennan, public lands counsel at the National Wildlife Federation. “Now the BLM must work with states to finalize the rest of the plans and spend scarce time and resources on on-the-ground implementation instead.” 

"We all need these plans finished - agencies, partners, communities - so we can collectively move into action addressing wildfire, drought, and ecosystem loss that is threatening not only the future of grouse, but our ability to live, work and thrive in western rangelands," said Matt Cahill, Sagebrush Sea Program Director for The Nature Conservancy. "We encourage the BLM and the Western States to find common ground so proactive management and restoration of the sagebrush sea can accelerate." 

“Finalizing these plans following the years of stakeholder engagement and collaboration among partners is a momentous step towards action to conserve the Greater Sage-grouse,” said Kaden McArthur, director of policy and government relations for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “We encourage the finalization of the remaining plans as now is the time to move forward with implementation for the benefit of these remarkable birds and the health of sagebrush ecosystems that provide a myriad of opportunities for sportsmen and women.” 

“Pew commends the years of work by states and the Bureau of Land Management to formulate these plans in Oregon and Colorado,” said Marcia Argust, director, U.S. conservation, The Pew Charitable Trusts. “The plans contain important provisions to help ensure stable populations of greater sage-grouse into the future. We look forward to continuing to work with the incoming administration to build on the important work of the many stakeholders involved. It’s essential to complete management plans for all relevant states to prevent further population declines of this important bird across its full range.” 

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Contact: Jason Howe, jason.howe@audubon.org; 415-595-9245