BOISE, Idaho — A new plan to save sagebrush habitats in Western states that support cattle ranching, recreation and 350 wildlife species — including imperiled sage grouse — is a paradigm shift in strategy, federal officials said.

The 248-page document released this month emphasizes new technologies and analytics as lands managers try to turn around a decades-long losing streak to a devastating combination of invasive plants and wildfires.

The plan categorizes sagebrush areas on their resistance and resiliency to those two threats, and describes a triage system as officials with limited money try to restore and protect sagebrush country where they can.



Recommended for you