Rangeland Ecology & Management

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ASSESSING WILDFIRE, INVASIVE ANNUAL GRASS, AND CONIFER EXPANSION THREATS IN GREAT BASIN SAGE-GROUSE HABITATS
Author
Pellant, Mike L.
Rinkes, Tom
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2015
Body

Wildfire, conversion of sagebrush habitat to invasive annual grasses, primarily cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and conifer expansion are primary threats to the sustainability of Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, hereafter sage-grouse) in the western portion of the species range. The determination on whether sage-grouse will be listed as a threatened or endangered species will be based in part upon information contained in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service land use plans. A Fire and Invasive assessment protocol has been developed as part of this planning effort to assist in prioritization of funding and management strategies to conserve or restore important habitat. Management strategies are types of actions or treatments and are divided into proactive approaches (e.g., fuels management and habitat recovery/restoration) and reactive approaches (e.g., fire operations and post-fire rehabilitation). This assessment is based in part on National Resources Conservation Service soil surveys that include geospatial information on soil temperature and moisture regimes which are associated with resistance to invasive annual grasses and resilience after disturbances. Percent of landscape cover of sagebrush and areas of high sage-grouse breeding bird densities are also important components in the assessment. The assessment process includes two steps: 1) Important Priority Areas for Conservation (PACs) and focal habitats are identified and potential management strategies (described above) are discussed. 2) Local land management units work together to address threats in or near focal habitat areas. Local information and geospatial data are collected and evaluated to improve on Step 1 geospatial data. Activity/implementation plans are then developed that include prioritized management tactics and treatments to implement effective, fuels management, habitat recovery/restoration, fire operations, and post-fire rehabilitation strategies. The assessment encourages a collaborative approach working across management boundaries to address common threats to sage-grouse habitat.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Sacramento, CA