USDA Invests $211 Million in Sage Grouse Conservation on Private Lands

By Justin Stakes

A new round of funding will go towards the Sage Grouse Initiative’s improvements to sagebrush habitat and sustainable ranching practices

Washington, DC -(AmmoLand.com)- Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced they will invest another $211 million in support of greater sage-grouse conservation on private lands through the Sage Grouse Initiative (SGI) over the next 3 years.

Across the bird’s range, private lands encompass slightly more than 30 percent of remaining sage-grouse habitat, so sportsmen’s groups are praising this commitment of resources to a new phase of conservation efforts on farms and ranches.

“Private landowners are the cornerstone for wildlife habitat conservation efforts in our country,” stated Howard Vincent, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “The newly announced NRCS investments for working lands in the West will continue to support the livelihoods of ranchers and producers, while providing extraordinary benefits for sage grouse and other wildlife. SGI continues to thrive as a model for wildlife conservation, and we are thrilled to support NRCS and its partners as we …read more

Source:: AmmoLand