Satellite remote sensing serves as the foundation for identifying and prioritizing conservation investments in the SCD

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $304,979 Cooperative Agreement under the Adaptive Science federal grant program (CFDA 15.670) to the University of Montana. The primary objective is to develop, investigate, and test methodologies to improve satellite-based monitoring of invasive annual grasses across the sagebrush biome. This work builds on the existing Rangeland Analysis Platform and will focus on identifying and evaluating the threat posed by invasive annual grasses, which drive 55-70% of sagebrush biome loss. Improved remote sensing datasets will enable land managers to better identify, prioritize, and evaluate the efficacy of treatments for invasive annual grasses and conifer expansion. The award period runs from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2027.

Building on the success of rangeland data products and working directly with the USDA ARS scientists and developers of the rangeland analysis platform RAP we will research and CO develop next generation remote sensing models and products to identify and evaluate IAG management across the sagebrush biome. In this proposal we focus primarily on the threat posed by iags as they drive 55 to 70 percent of biome loss. Note that conifer expansion the second largest contributor to sagebrush biome loss will also benefit from improvements. Improved remote sensing datasets will allow practitioners to better identify and prioritize invasive annual grass treatments. Most importantly improvements will permit the evaluation of treatment efficacy at the management scale across the sagebrush biome. Using the evaluation framework treatments can be rigorously evaluated to determine their efficacy. These evaluations will guide practitioners as they work to achieve the goals of the SCD. The primary objective of this project is to develop investigate and test methodologies to improve satellite based monitoring of invasive annual grasses.