The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the greater sage grouse will not be listed under the Endangered Species Act.
The decision, which was required to be made by the end of this month, was made thanks to the success of state and local conservation efforts.
However, in a mixed announcement, the Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service also announced their decision to move forward with land management plans which address sage grouse populations across the birds’ 184 million acre range.
The new plans add new land use restrictions which may affect the timing of range improvements, reduce livestock numbers, eliminate or reduce actively permitted grazing allotments, or impact the ability to renew future livestock permits, according to the American Farm Bureau.
Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman stated “These new plans send a mixed message by punishing livestock permittees who are already working to conserve species and resources.”
