Helping Western Landowners

Helping Western Landowners

Helping Western Landowners. I’m Greg Martin with Lacy Gray for Colorado Ag Today.

GRAY: Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday unveiled an ecosystem-wide model to aid the Southwestern willow flycatcher and help western landowners.

MARTIN: The model will enhance or restore habitat for at-risk, threatened and endangered species while supporting working lands in Colorado along with Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The program builds on existing partnerships with landowners in the Southwest to support habitat improvement for the Southwestern willow flycatcher, along with 83 other species that depend on the same riparian ecosystem. This action will result in healthier ranges, more productive ranches, and more robust rural economies.

GRAY: NRCS Chief Jason Weller said "These efforts will not only support the many species that depend on this riparian ecosystem, but also help ranchers move to more sustainable grazing systems and give them the support they need to keep their lands working.”

MARTIN: These efforts are part of the Working Lands for Wildlife partnership between NRCS and FWS, which helps create habitat on working landscapes for seven different at-risk, threatened or endangered species, including the flycatcher.

GRAY: The six new conservation practices available through WLFW for the flycatcher include: installation of a stream crossing, pumping plant, micro-irrigation system or livestock shelter; mulching; and planting for species habitat.

And that’s Colorado Ag Today. I’m Greg Martin, thanks for listening on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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