By Kaylyn Zipp
The federal government has announced a new coordinated plan for how groups can work together to conserve migration routes for elk and other large game species across the West.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) The Migratory Big Game: A Framework for Conservation Action focuses on how federal agencies, states, Tribes and private landowners can coordinate efforts to reduce habitat fragmentation and open up big game migration corridors by leveraging and expanding on current projects.
The framework focuses on three key areas in 17 states across the West: reducing barriers to movement, improving habitat quality, and protecting habitat and connectivity. The plan emphasizes private-public voluntary partnerships by focusing on voluntary conservation easements and Conservation Reserve Program contracts. These tools, funded by the Farm Bill, compensate landowners for protecting wildlife habitat and other natural resources on private lands.
“This new Framework for Conservation Action helps us better target our resources and align our efforts, which benefit wildlife as well as ranching operations,” said Richard Fordyce, USDA’s Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation in a press release.
The framework outlines strategies for removing invasive species, restoring wetland habitats and improving forage. The goal is to improve habitat quality and strengthen rangeland resilience for livestock and wildlife. It aims to modernize fencing by providing several wildlife friendly options, reduce costs and meet the needs of industry. The approach is built on the back of local collaborations. such as the Southwest Montana Flexible Grazing Project, which uses virtual fencing to meet ranchers’ needs and reduces the amount of fencing on the landscape preventing wildlife movement.
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