Ranchers and conservationists step up to avert listing of sage-grouse

“The decision whether or not to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act was one of the biggest listing decisions of our time. Thanks to unprecedented public-private partnerships among ranchers, energy developers, conservationists and states, we now have the foundation to guide future management of our nation’s wildlife and working landscapes.

“There simply aren’t enough protected areas in the U.S. to ensure the survival of the more than 250 species that await listing decisions under the Endangered Species Act. We need new conservation tools that unlock the vast, untapped conservation potential of America’s private working lands.

“In places like Colorado, energy companies, agriculture leaders and the state are working together to put forth new solutions like the Colorado Habitat Exchange, proving that wildlife conservation does not have to come at the expense of the economy. That in fact, it is just the opposite. Similar efforts to launch habitat exchanges are underway in Wyoming, Nevada and other western states.

“Today’s ‘not warranted’ decision sends a strong signal that investments in conservation are making a difference and provide the catalyst for a different kind of politics.”

- Eric Holst, associate vice president of working lands, Environmental Defense Fund