Sage Grouse Database

Sage Grouse Database

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report.

Some in the grazing community say the potential listing of sage grouse could make it the next Spotted Owl -- referencing the dramatic effects to the the Pacific Northwest’s logging industry when that species was listed through the Endangered Species Act.

Public Land Council’s executive director, Dustin Van Liew says as a proactive step the PLC has contracted for the development of a database of information on the benefits of grazing as it relates to sage grouse habitat.

Van Liew: “So that our members and our industry have a specific resource they can go to to find data and information on the sage grouse and have quick access to those studies that show what our industry knows that grazing is beneficial to the sage grouse or at minimum has a diminishish effect on the sage grouse. So that they use that on their discussions with their local BLM or forest services offices to reduce any negative effects that regulations or potential listings could have on their operations.”

The PLC hopes to make this user-friendly searchable database available this November as Van Liew shares.

Van Liew: “It will go not just at the research that has been done, but also provide legal database to show all the court cases that have been brought forward on the sage grouse and the decisions rendered by judges in different areas of the West. So again they have as much information as possible when dealing with the sage grouse in their local area or in their state.”

I’m KayDee Gilkey with the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.