In the Hart-Sheldon region of Oregon and Nevada, a healthy sagebrush landscape helps support over 1,200 business, according to a new report released today which details the important contributions of sagebrush habitats to the economies of five regions across the West.
The Hart-Sheldon region of Oregon and Nevada is one of the five western sagebrush landscapes highlighted. The report found that over 1,200 businesses in this region are supported by tourism and recreation across the sagebrush landscape, accounting for 18% of all jobs in the area.The report follows the recently-released Department of Interior plans to protect the Greater sage-grouse as critical not only for sage-grouse populations, but also for the livelihoods in the West that rely on intact sagebrush habitat to thrive, such as recreation and farming.
The report comes just before Governors from across the West meet with Sec. of the Interior Sally Jewell tomorrow at the annual Western Governs Association conference to discuss the wide variety of issues facing the West. Continued collaboration and cooperation between Sec. Jewell and Western Governors is essential in order to implement the sage-grouse land management plans in a timely fashion, and conserve the ecosystem and the western economies that depend on them.
These jobs and the sagebrush economy were threatened last week by those in the Senate wishing to thwart the progress made through sage-grouse conservation. Luckily, the mislead sage-grouse amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill was removed. But, some are still trying to use other bills to defund or delay important progress.