Growing Returns

Selected tag(s): Wyoming Conservation Exchange

10,000-acre deal to protect sage-grouse marks milestone in conservation

By Eric Holst / Bio / Twitter profile / Published: November 9, 2017

The imperiled greater sage-grouse avoided an endangered species listing in September 2015 after Western landowners, conservation groups, and state and federal agencies forged a plan to protect its habitat. Read more >>

Today, Kinross Gold U.S.A., Inc., will complete the first purchase of habitat credits to offset impacts to greater sage-grouse through the Nevada Conservation Credit System. The transaction will take place at a signing ceremony in Carson City, Nevada to commemorate the long-term stewardship of nearly 10,000 acres of vital sage-grouse habitat.

Kinross is the first company to participate in the program, buying credits to offset the environmental impacts of its Bald Mountain gold mine in northeast Nevada. The credit projects will include a variety of conservation activities, such as grazing management and fencing maintenance, which will take place over the next 30 years.

The transaction marks a significant milestone in the sage-grouse story, and in America’s conservation history. Read More »

Posted in Habitat Exchange, Wildlife Protection / Also tagged bald mountain gold mine, BLM, Colorado Habitat Exchange, ecosystems, Endangered Species Act, environmental defense fund, habitat exchange, Interior department, kinross, mining company, mitigation, Nevada, nevada conservation credit system, Partnerships, ryan zinke, sage grouse | Comments are closed

With the launching of a new market, he’s a vanguard of grouse conservation in Wyoming

By Sara Brodnax / Bio / Published: June 23, 2015

Eric Peterson has been hired to fill a new position as pilot administrator of the Wyoming Conservation Exchange.

A landowner-led conservation effort in Wyoming has sparked a new market and has now created a new job.

The University of Wyoming recently announced the hiring of a new pilot administrator of the Wyoming Conservation Exchange, a voluntary, market-based program that seeks to enroll local landowners in landscape-scale conservation of greater sage-grouse, mule deer and hydrologic services.

Eric was formerly manager of the Sublette County Conservation District, where he played a critical role in developing the Wyoming Conservation Exchange with partners from the University of Wyoming, Environmental Defense Fund, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the Wyoming chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

In his new role, Eric will work with potential buyers and sellers of conservation credits to facilitate pilot transactions and market growth.

I asked Eric to share some thoughts on what drew him to this role and what he hopes to achieve over the next few months.

Posted in Habitat Exchange, Wildlife Protection / Also tagged ecosystems, environmental defense fund, Eric Peterson, greater sage-grouse, habitat, habitat exchange, Partnerships, ranchers, stock growers, Sublette County Conservation District, sustainable agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, University of Wyoming, wildlife, Wyoming | Read 1 Response

Wyoming ranchers steward land, cattle and the greater sage-grouse

By Sara Brodnax / Bio / Published: October 9, 2014

Cattle ranching and greater sage-grouse can not only coexist, but thrive.

Ranchers and other private landowners have a critical role to play in conserving wildlife like the greater sage-grouse, which could face listing under the Endangered Species Act in 2015.

Home to nearly half of the greater sage-grouse’s remaining habitat, Wyoming is a landscape critical to the recovery of the species. A full 40 percent of the bird’s habitat in the state is privately held. Therefore, common sense solutions are needed to reward ranchers and other private landowners for conservation actions that protect vital habitat.

A rural, working landscape

Private lands in the West are often found near water, as ranches and other homesteaders put down stakes where they had ready access to water. For similar reasons, these areas are also critically important to wildlife.

Posted in Habitat Exchange, Wildlife Protection / Also tagged agriculture, ecosystems, endangered species, ESA, greater sage-grouse, habitat, Jonah Field, Partnerships, Pinedale Anticline, ranching, sage grouse initiative, Sublette County Conservation District, Upper Green River Conservation Exchange, wildlife, Wyoming, Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts, Wyoming Association of Stock Growers | Comments are closed