The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is experiencing range-wide population declines. Notwithstanding, recently the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) determined that protection for the greater sage-grouse under the ESA was no longer warranted primarily based on established conservation measures throughout the species’ range. The Service considers conservation banking an attractive mitigation and conservation strategy because it is implemented within a market framework and species are treated as a benefit rather than a liability. The Secretary of the Interior recently approved the privately held Sweetwater River Conservancy Greater Sage-grouse Habitat Bank (GSGHB) on approximately 20,466 deeded hectares in central Wyoming. Using radio-telemetry and hyperspectral imaging, we estimated functional sage-grouse habitat bank credits for the GSGHB based on the biology and habitat selection patterns of sage-grouse within the GSGHB. We also developed management and monitoring plans to ensure sage-grouse functional habitats within the GSGHB will be protected in perpetuity. We estimated seasonal resource selection functions (RSF) within the bank area to identify the relative probability of female sage-grouse habitat selection as a function of environmental and infrastructure covariates to identify habitat suitability categories and subsequent habitat conservation credits (HCC).
Results/Conclusions
The GSGHB is the first conservation bank for sage-grouse and encompasses functioning seasonal habitats for a population of sage-grouse occupying 93,904 ha of deeded, state and federal land. Using locations from 109 telemetered female sage-grouse, we estimated breeding, summer and winter season RSFs and, based on probability of use by sage-grouse, we placed each hectare into five categories from high value (52.3%) to low value (6.5%). We defined a HCC as a hectare of habitat with a corresponding value based on its habitat suitability category. We defined saleable HCCs as those HCCs that were located on GSGHB deeded lands. The seasonal RSFs accurately assessed female sage-grouse habitat selection within the GSGHB and resulted in our estimate of 14,538 (ha) HCC. The Management Plan described grazing plans and management of noxious weeds, fires, recreation, and West Nile virus. The monitoring plan identified how the sage-grouse population and habitats will be monitored to ensure functional sage-grouse habitats are protected in perpetuity. We believe the methods used to develop HCCs and the detailed management and monitoring plans provide a robust framework for accurately quantifying, monitoring, and managing the habitat value, and therefore the number of HCC, for sage-grouse banks proposed in the future.