Sage Grouse Conservation Study Draft available
30-day Public Comment period, deadline Nov. 17
by Wyoming Game & Fish
October 22, 2006
The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has released the draft of the Greater Sage-grouse Comprehensive Conservation Strategy for a 30-day courtesy public review and comment period.
The public review opportunity is a courtesy being extended by WAFWA. An early draft of the strategy has already been reviewed by states, federal agencies, private landowners and others responsible for managing sage grouse and the sagebrush habitats where sage grouse live. The request for public review is motivated by a desire for additional public comment prior to the strategy being finalized.
The entire process leading to the draft strategy has been a transparent public process based on collaboration and cooperation between private citizens, local governments, state and provincial wildlife agencies and three federal conservation agencies. Wyoming's eight local sage grouse working groups have examined local sage grouse and sagebrush conservation needs and are drafting local conservation plans. When implemented, the Greater Sage-grouse Comprehensive Conservation Strategy will provide new and additional conservation capacity to support the implementation of strategies and actions of state and local working groups.
The strategy is available on the WAFWA web site at http://www.wafwa.org. Comments on the strategy should be submitted electronically to sagegrousecomments@cableone.net, and will be accepted through Nov. 17, 2006. Comments received after Nov. 17 may not be considered in preparing the final strategy, which will be published in December.
For more information, contact Sage-grouse Conservation Planning Framework team coordinator Dwight Bunnell, Utah, at (801) 910-0215 or editor/writer San Stiver, Arizona, at (928) 443-5158.
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