Habitat threats in the sagebrush ecosystem: methods of regional assessment and applications in the Great Basin

Abstract

This book is about the status and future of the sagebrush ecosystem and its dependent species. While the ecosystem remains large, it is not healthy. In fact, some have said it is dying-albeit a slow death, and one caused by thousands of small insults to its integrity. Because the insults-better known as human land uses-are many and varied, with no single use to which full blame can be assigned, the solutions likewise are many and varied. Therein lies the problem: to maintain the ecosystem and its many species of concern will require monumental changes in management, and those changes must address all land uses in an integrated, holistic manner to be effective.     Thus far, managers of the sagebrush ecosystem have been challenged to reverse the trend of habitat loss and degradation, despite the plethora of committees, coalitions, workshops, conferences, conservation strategies, working groups, and land use planning efforts. Two major obstacles impede success. First, managers sorely lack needed resources-both funds and land use direction-to implement real change that would, at a minimum, slow the decline of habitat loss and degradation. Funding needed by federal land managers is substantial-one published estimate identified a six-fold increase beyond current budgets to effectively mitigate the threat posed by continued invasion of cheatgrass alone. Moreover, land use direction thus far has not been holistic, often treating the symptoms as problems rather than addressing the causes. An example is the lack of progress in addressing the potential effects of overgrazing and off-road motorized recreation as catalysts for the continued invasion and establishment of cheatgrass. Instead, the focus often has been on managing the frequent, high-intensity wildfires that result from cheatgrass invasion. Land use direction, developed in a comprehensive manner at regional scales appropriate to address the many regional problems in the ecosystem, is urgently needed.     Second, managers are being asked to stop the loss and degradation of sagebrush habitats while lacking essential research information on which to base effective strategies. The sagebrush ecosystem continues to receive little research attention in contrast to other ecosystems. An example is research on oldgrowth forests in the western U.S., where studies designed to understand the ecosystem and its dependent species are supported by multi-million dollar budgets. Annual budgets for research in the sagebrush ecosystem represent a meager percentage of such funds, despite the high rate of habitat loss that continues, seemingly unabated. Without new research to address key knowledge gaps regarding effective management of the many pervasive anthropogenic disturbances in the sagebrush ecosystem, substantial progress in mitigating many of these threats will be difficult.     While the above points could be the subject of lengthy debate-and represent our personal views and not those of any organization or agency-one only needs to read the recent scientific literature to understand the overwhelming problems that confront managers of the ecosystem. The degree to which the many threats may overtake and dramatically change the sagebrush ecosystem remains an open question. Not in question, however, is that the ecosystem is in serious trouble, and that conventional management is likely to be only partially effective in addressing many of the current problems.

Citation

Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H., editors. 2005. Habitat threats in the sagebrush ecosystem: methods of regional assessment and applications in the Great Basin. Lawrence, Kansas: Alliance Communications Group. 301 p.