NEW ENERGY PLAN GOOD FOR THE BIRDS

A model for wildlife-friendly energy development
January 6, 2010 (Bird Life International)

"Newly announced changes to United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leasing policies offer enhanced protection for Near Threatened Greater Sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, and an innovative model for wildlife-friendly energy development. Other wildlife that shares the western sagebrush ecosystem will also benefit.

"The BLM's new policy follows protests by groups including Audubon (BirdLife in the USA) at the federal government's push to lease nearly 280,000 hectares of important habitat in Wyoming…Previous energy development was a major factor in reducing Greater Sage-Grouse populations to 10-20% of historic levels. Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus, Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli, Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri and other sagebrush-dependent species have also declined."

The bird in question (the Greater Sage Grouse - click to enlarge)

"The new protocol embraces recommendations developed by a stakeholder task force convened by Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal. Audubon helped shape the group's science-based approach, by mapping Greater Sage-grouse habitat and contributing expertise on the species's natural history and life cycle. Wyoming is thought to hold 54% of the remaining global population.

"The rules limit energy development in the 20% of Wyoming land designated as 'sage-grouse core areas'. Oil or gas drilling will now be limited…Wind energy development will be effectively precluded inside core areas, due to the scale of habitat disruption. Audubon expects the new rules to redirect wind development to land outside core areas. This will reduce potential hurdles for much-needed renewable energy."

Wyoming has wind to spare. (click to enlarge)

"These new rules offer greater predictability in land use planning, and will help avoid an Endangered Species Act listing to save the iconic Greater Sage-grouse. Such a listing could dramatically curtail energy development and other economic activity across the state…

"Audubon urges the BLM to further the process through expansion of the new rules across the range of the sage-grouse, covering 11 western states and 24 million hectares of federal land. Montana and Colorado are already exploring stakeholder-crafted core-area approaches…Audubon works with Google Earth and the National Resources Defense Council to provide maps and web resources to help decision-makers make informed choices about sites for wind turbines and transmission lines…"