Probably no plant defines the West, and Wyoming, more than does sagebrush. It is the ecological glue holding a vast community of life together. Yet we are losing it.

A new scientific paper is a clarion call for all of us to learn more about the sagebrush ecosystem, and to protect it. In “Teetering On The Edge Or Too Late? Conservation and Research Issues for Avifauna of Sagebrush Habitats,” recently published in The Condor, author Steven Knick and his five co-authors sound the alarm for protecting this unique habitat, particularly with respect to the birds that depend on it.

The authors note that this vast ecosystem is increasingly jeopardized by degradation, fragmentation and outright loss of native sagebrush landscapes. Threats include oil and gas development, urbanization, livestock grazing, conversion to cropland and invasion by non-native plant species. Color maps document that even though on a broad scale there are still extensive areas of sagebrush, much of it has become highly fragmented. That is, sagebrush habitats are increasingly disconnected and isolated from each other, which has significant and usually negative ecological consequences.

WOC is committed to saving sagebrush ecosystems in special places like the Jack Morrow Hills and the breathtakingly long big-game migration routes in the Upper Green River Valley.

The paper focuses on the impacts of habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss on birds. It documents that at least five species — the greater sage grouse, Gunnison sage grouse, sage thrasher, Brewer’s sparrow and sage sparrow — depend on sagebrush for their survival. Another 13 species, ranging from the ferruginous hawk to the green-tailed towhee and vesper sparrow, are highly dependent on sagebrush because they require open shrub or grassland habitats to survive.

The authors write, “We need to enlarge existing protected blocks, increase connectivity in the landscape, and employ basic principles of landscape management to ensure long-term survival of sagebrush habitats and birds.” They recommend that because less than three percent of sagebrush habitats are safeguarded in national parks or other protective federal reserves, “Approximately [10.6 million acres]of sagebrush lands would need to be placed in nature reserves if we are to meet the conservation goal of protecting 10% of the distribution.”

And, of course, sagebrush is of critical importance to many other species besides birds, particularly pronghorn and mule deer. In many instances sagebrush is a vital component of their habitat, particularly on winter ranges where it may provide virtually the only available cover and forage at times. While the volatile chemicals in sagebrush may make it unpalatable for some species, for many of our big-game animals it is important and highly nutritious forage.

Fortunately, more than 70% of sagebrush habitats are on public lands. Therefore, if federal land-management agencies heed the call in “Teetering On The Edge Or Too Late?” we should be able save this magnificent and irreplaceable ecosystem. Nevertheless, as the authors point out, “Our primary challenge…may be to convince our society of the intrinsic value of sagebrush ecosystems and their unique biodiversity.”

Wyoming is clearly an area where there are relatively large areas of sagebrush in good condition. Thus, it makes sense for protection and restoration efforts to be centered here, which is one reason why WOC invests so much energy in protecting special places like the Jack Morrow Hills and the breathtakingly long big-game migration routes in the Upper Green River Valley. This new paper can be an important resource for those efforts.