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CHEYENNE — Effective Jan. 31, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will retire the Sage-Grouse Local Working Groups, marking a new chapter in conservation efforts that began in 2004.
“We greatly appreciate the 21 years of dedicated service from our local working group members,” Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said. “Their efforts are part of the foundation for our ongoing work in sage-grouse conservation.”
The LWGs were a direct response to the 2003 Wyoming Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan. The primary role of the groups was to localize sage-grouse conservation strategies focused on improving and maintaining sage-grouse populations and habitats. Providing key local perspectives and insights, the groups were instrumental in implementing crucial sage-grouse conservation plans and funded 377 projects. Through the efforts of these working groups, more than $11 million in sage-grouse focused conservation actions and $68 million in matching funds were secured.
Since 2018, the role of the LWGs has evolved. Conservation funding authority has shifted from the legislature to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, while policy decisions have moved to the Sage-Grouse Implementation Team. The decision to conclude the LWGs follows a departmental assessment that identified opportunities to improve efficiency, reallocate personnel time and streamline habitat project funding without impacting sage-grouse management.
“We will continue to honor the work of our local working groups, managing sage-grouse through effective partnerships and initiatives,” Bruce said. “Wyoming has a proven track record of successful management of this species, and we will continue to provide the public, as well as our former LWG members, with opportunities to work with us. While our strategies are evolving and adapting to current needs, our mission to conserve your Wyoming wildlife remains the same.”
Game and Fish will continue to allocate funds to department projects specifically benefiting the sagebrush ecosystem, although the LWG project-specific funding is gone. The SGIT will continue to meet on a regular basis, providing opportunity for public discussions and policy recommendation development. Partnerships with other state and federal agencies, conservation groups and local non-profit organizations will continue to play a vital role in sage-grouse management.
Sage-grouse habitat conservation also is a priority in the Statewide Habitat Plan, a roadmap defining how Game and Fish will move forward with key habitat conservation projects. For sage-grouse, SHP priorities include habitat connectivity, crucial winter habitat and core management areas. Maps of these areas can be found on the sage-grouse data page on the Game and Fish website.
—WGFD—
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