Biden administration limits development in Western states to protect sage grouse
The Biden administration has introduced new regulations to safeguard the habitat of the greater sage grouse, restricting development on more than 34 million acres but potentially facing reversal under the incoming Trump administration.
Austyn Gaffney reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- The new regulations limit drilling, mining, and clean energy projects on federal lands within the sage grouse’s habitat, aiming to preserve the bird and its ecosystem.
- The Bureau of Land Management’s plan designates four million acres as critical areas where development must be underground, with stricter permitting processes for clean energy on 30 million more acres.
- While conservationists support the measures, the clean energy sector expressed concerns that restrictions hinder needed infrastructure.
Key quote:
“For too long, a false choice has been presented for land management that aims to pit development against conservation. This administration’s collaborative work has demonstrated that we can do both successfully.”
— Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Why this matters:
The greater sage grouse’s habitat supports a diverse ecosystem vital to hundreds of species and local communities. With its population in steep decline, these protections aim to balance conservation and development. However, shifting policies could disrupt long-term habitat management efforts and further threaten vulnerable species.
