Native America Calling

Today, April 30- Tribes lead the way for protecting sage grouse

Some tribes are taking over sage-grouse conservation where federal and state governments are not acting. Once numerous, grouse populations are in decline because of development, ranching and mineral extraction. The Trump administration just declined to protect the birds along a stretch of the California-Nevada border where environmental groups say the populations are in trouble. A federal judge rejected lawsuits in Washington State filed in part to protect grouse habitat. But several tribes are working to preserve habitat using traditional ecological knowledge. They’re also monitoring bird numbers and securing collaborative agreements with governments and businesses to help the animals recover.

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