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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Burns, Oregon » Range and Meadow Forage Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412389
Research Project: Integrate Vegetative Bud-based Propagation and Seeds in Restoration of Rangeland Native Plant Communities

Location: Range and Meadow Forage Management Research

Title: Assessing conservation readiness: The where, who, and how of strategic conservation in the sagebrush biome

Author
item WOLLSTEIN, KATHERINE - Oregon State University
item JOHNSON, DUSTIN - Oregon State University
item Boyd, Chad

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/8/2024
Publication Date: 10/15/2024
Citation: Wollstein, K.L., Johnson, D.D., Boyd, C.S. 2024. Assessing conservation readiness: The where, who, and how of strategic conservation in the sagebrush biome. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 97:187-199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.08.013.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2024.08.013

Interpretive Summary: Strategic conservation in the sagebrush biome does not only involve working in ecologically important areas; it is an approach that must explicitly acknowledge the social and administrative conditions in which individuals and organizations are making decisions. We developed a framework to promote strategic and durable conservation by identifying geographies of “conservation readiness,” based on the spatial convergence of ecological importance, social capacity, and conducive administrative conditions. Our framework suggests different roles and activities that must occur at local, mid, and regional levels to create or sustain conditions for conservation readiness over time. In practice, this approach contrasts with management driven solely by ecological importance and illustrates that effective and sustained conservation must involve targeted efforts that also curate both social and administrative conditions.

Technical Abstract: The sagebrush biome is rapidly deteriorating largely due to the ecosystem threats of conifer expansion, more frequent and larger wildfires, and proliferation of invasive annual grasses. Reversing the impacts of these threats is a formidable challenge. The Sagebrush Conservation Design (SCD) emphasized that limited conservation resources should first be used to maintain Core Sagebrush Areas (CSA), and then to grow such areas where possible. The SCD heightens the ecological importance of maintaining and strategically growing CSAs. However, the fact that these areas have been identified does not mean that conservation is immediately possible or will be effective. Strategic conservation in the sagebrush biome does not only involve working in ecologically important areas; it is an approach that must explicitly ac- knowledge the social and administrative conditions in which individuals and organizations are making decisions. We accordingly propose that strategic, durable work can only occur in geographies of “con- servation readiness,”that is, where ecological importance, social capacity, and conducive administrative conditions intersect. We offer a framework for assessing conservation readiness that functions as both an inventory and diagnostic tool, highlighting current assets while shining a light on needs and the types of activities that will create or sustain conservation readiness. We demonstrate the utility of the Conserva- tion Readiness Framework for identifying the different roles and activities that must occur at local, mid, and regional levels to nurture conservation readiness over time. In practice, this approach contrasts with management driven solely by ecological importance and illustrates that effective conservation must also involve targeted efforts that curate both social and administrative conditions.