The sagebrush-grassland landscape of north-central montana is among the most intact in the united states and is identified as a priority area for conservation across multiple agency and conservation…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $166,833.34 Cooperative Agreement to the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, Inc. under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (CFDA 15.631) on December 1, 2023. The goal of this 5-year project is to improve sagebrush and grassland habitat for sage-grouse, sagebrush songbirds, grassland songbirds, big game, and other priority wildlife in Montana's Northern Great Plains. Key activities include collaborating with local landowners to implement voluntary habitat restoration and enhancement practices focused on pronghorn and sage-grouse. The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, a rancher-led non-profit, will work across Blaine, Phillips, and Valley counties to enhance big game connectivity and support grass-based agriculture while restoring habitat quality. This award builds on the organization's prior federal cooperative agreements totaling over $1.5 million to deliver conservation on private lands in the region.

The sagebrush-grassland landscape of north-central montana is among the most intact in the united states and is identified as a priority area for conservation across multiple agency and conservation partners. The region is important for many species including greater sage-grouse, priority grassland songbirds, migratory waterfowl and migratory big game such as pronghorn, mule deer and ELK. Our local partnership is working directly with the ranching community in this landscape to support grass-based agriculture while restoring and enhancing habitat quality for sage-grouse, big game and other wildlife. The goal of this project is to improve sagebrush and grassland habitat for sage-grouse, sagebrush songbirds, grassland songbirds, big game and other priority wildlife in montanas northern great plains. The project will enhance big game connectivity across the northern portion of montana fish, wildlife and parks big game priority area d, including blaine, phillips, and valley counties in north-central montana. Goals will be accomplished by working collaboratively with local landowners and managers on a voluntary basis to implement habitat restoration and enhancement activities for focal wildlife species, with a focus on pronghorn and sage-grouse.