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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Bureau of Land Management today published a new policy on Gunnison sage grouse, initiating a rangewide revision of land-use plans to strengthen protections for the imperiled bird. The policy includes a moratorium on new leases for oil and gas drilling and coal mining in Gunnison sage grouse habitat while the plan amendments are being prepared. The Instruction Memorandum was published as a result of an agreement between WildEarth Guardians and federal agencies allowing a court-ordered Endangered Species Act listing deadline for the Gunnison sage grouse to be moved from May 12 to November 12, 2014 in exchange for increased protective measures for the imperiled species.

“Today’s increased protections for the Gunnison sage grouse are long overdue and a welcome step forward in preventing the extinction of this iconic bird,” said Erik Molvar, wildlife biologist with WildEarth Guardians. “The clear next step is to make these essential protections permanent through strong land use plans.”

Land use plan updates for the greater sage grouse began years ago, but the government had failed to update plans to protect Gunnison sage grouse until today. Five of the six remaining populations of Gunnison sage grouse are below scientifically established minimum viable population thresholds, and are considered to be at extreme risk for extinction. The sixth population, in the Gunnison Basin, is holding steady at 4,000 birds but still faces continuing, long-term loss and fragmentation of its most sensitive habitats.

While several measures in the new policy are significant improvements, interim development on existing oil and gas leases poses a continuing threat to Gunnison sage grouse populations, particularly the San Miguel and Dove Creek–Monticello population where drilling activity is encroaching on key habitats.

“The decision not to offer leases for oil, gas, or coal extraction while the plan amendments are underway is a key measure, because Gunnison sage grouse habitats that aren’t leased don’t get drilled, strip-mined, roaded, or fragmented,” said Molvar. “However, BLM is not doing enough to curtail impacts on existing leases.”

On previously existing leases, BLM is only committing to protect an inadequate 0.6-mile buffer around leks, or dancing and mating sites, with softer language including timing limitations that may allow industrial development of the remaining nesting habitat within 4 miles of the lek, as long as construction and drilling does not occur during the breeding and nesting seasons. Scientific studies show that existing industrial developments within 1.9 mile of the lek drive numbers of sage grouse using that lek toward extirpation. Not a single scientific study supports a 0.6-mile lek buffer as adequate to prevent major impacts to the bird.

The new policy also includes added direction to consider improvements in livestock grazing, fire and fuels management and projects to alter vegetation and habitat that may or may not benefit Gunnison sage grouse. “Any projects that move forward in sage grouse habitats will need close scrutiny to be sure they do not further harm Gunnison sage grouse, even with this new policy in place,” said Molvar.

The policy is posted on the BLM website.