National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 The Bureau of Land Management’s Landscape Approach to Management

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Panel Overview 2  Three challenges to institutionalizing landscape approaches to resource management  The BLM’s approach to landscape management  The greater sage-grouse planning strategy: an interagency application of the landscape approach  Focusing funding from multiple sources to restore and enhance landscape resilience

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Three Challenges to Institutionalizing Landscape Approaches to Management

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Overview 4 To effectively institutionalize landscape approaches to resource management, we must:  Understand the work involved  Develop an effective division of labor  Demonstrate meaningful outcomes

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Challenge 1 -- Understand the Work 5 We are:  Moving from engaging the world at a project or field office sale to working at multiple geospatial scales across ownership and organizational boundaries  Doing this in multiple “landscape” communities of practice: water delivery & use, energy development & infrastructure, transportation, and conservation

Understand the Work – Major Components 6 (6) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (4) Plans (2) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (5) Projects and Permits (3) Conservation and Development Strategies (1) Shared Need, Concern or Goal

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Major Components of a Landscape Approach 7  Occur in every region in one form or another  Occur in every community of practice  Operate at multiple-scales  Interact and iterate  May be combined  Have multiple drivers Assessments Monitoring Strategies Projects & Permits Plans Science and Geospatial Integration

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Major Components – Framework 8 A conceptual framework for organizing and sharing information about:  Who is doing what, where and at what scale  Emerging policy, science and data needs  Opportunities to coordinate and integrate efforts Assessments Monitoring Strategies Projects & Permits Plans Science and Geospatial Integration

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Challenge 2 – Division of Labor 9 As evidenced by this workshop:  There is some very creative work underway concerning these components  There also are a significant number of overlapping and duplicative projects We need to create a more effective division of labor.

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Division of Labor – Needs 10 Specifically, we need to  Share information about who is doing what, where  Identify best management practices  Agree on a division of labor for deploying those practices across the landscape And we need to do this:  By landscape component – nationally and regionally  Across the “landscape” communities of practice

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Division of Labor – Opportunity 11 The CSCs, the LCCs, and the other regional consortia can help. Must engage:  The governmental agencies and other national partners in a conversation about how they see the landscape components evolving  The other communities of practice in a conversation about their needs for information about cultural and fish & wildlife resources

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Challenge 3 -- Demonstrate Outcomes 12 A multi-scaled approach to management creates three significant outcomes:  More effective and durable conservation  Increased certainty and reduced costs for developers  Better coordination and integration of efforts among governmental agencies and their partners

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Outcomes – Examples 13 There are good examples of these outcomes:  Restore New Mexico is an example of effective conservation  Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone is an example of increased certainty  Terrestrial and Aquatic Monitoring are examples of coordination and integration  BLM and NRCS Vegetation Monitoring  EPA, BLM and USGS Aquatic Monitoring

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Outcomes -- Needs 14 We need to systematically work across the communities of practice to:  Document such examples  Share them with OMB, Congress and the public

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Components of the Bureau of Land Management’s Landscape Approach

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM’s Landscape Approach: Components 16 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM’s Landscape Approach: Assessments 17 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Landscape Assessments 18  Understand resources and land use conditions and trends across landscapes  Examples: BLM, LCCs, Western Governor’s Association, The Nature Conservancy, etc.

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Landscape Assessments: REAs 19

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM’s Landscape Approach: Strategies 20 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Conservation & Development Strategies 21  Strategizing on where to conserve, where to restore, and where to develop  Based upon the landscape assessments  An all-lands, partnership approach  Examples: Restore New Mexico, Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative, Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative  In some cases, Regional Mitigation Strategies

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Conservation & Development Strategies 22  Restore New Mexico  Started in 2005  Restoring landscapes across New Mexico; science-informed  3+ million acres treated  Partners include: State and Federal Agencies Ranchers, Industry Sportsmen Environmental Groups

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM’s Landscape Approach: Plans 23 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Plans 24  Actualize the strategies  NEPA analyses and formal agency decisions  Examples: BLM’s Planning 2.0, Master Leasing Plans

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Plans: Planning  Improving BLM’s Land Use Planning process  Create a more dynamic and efficient process  Enhance opportunities for collaborative planning  Plan across landscapes and at multiple scales  Planning scale relevant to resource scale  Integrated consideration of resources and resource uses

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Plans: Planning

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM’s Landscape Approach: Projects 27 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Projects and Permits 28  Actualizing the plans on the ground  Land use permits  Application of the mitigation hierarchy (sometimes via Regional Mitigation Strategies)  Restoration and conservation projects

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Projects and Permits: Mitigation 29  DOI & BLM Mitigation Policy  Full mitigation hierarchy  Regional conditions and trends  Greatest benefit, regardless of proximity of impacts or land-ownership (with willing landowners)

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Projects and Permits: Mitigation 30  Compensatory Mitigation Programs  Funds and Exchanges  Need to partner-up  Need agreement on crediting/debiting methods  Need appropriate data  Examples: Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Wyoming

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM’s Landscape Approach: Monitoring 31 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Monitoring and Adaptive Management 32  Data to support adaptive management  Statistically-valid, scalable sampling  Core indicators  Standardized methods  Partnership!  Don’t all need to go it alone.  Shouldn’t use incompatible methods

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Monitoring: AIM Strategy 33  BLM’s Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) Strategy  Terrestrial Condition and Trend with NRCS  Aquatic Condition and Trend with USGS and EPA  Broad-scale, mid-scale, and site-specific monitoring

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Back to the Start 34 (5) Monitoring for Adaptive Management (3) Plans (1) Assessments Science and Geospatial Services (2) Conservation and Development Strategies (4) Projects and Permits

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy National Greater Sage-grouse Planning Strategy An Interagency Application of the Landscape Approach National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation ~ October 24,

Presentation Overview What is a Greater Sage-grouse? Why is their conservation important to the BLM? BLM and Forest Service’s National Greater Sage- Grouse Planning Strategy- Conservation at a Landscape Scale Challenges Questions 36

What is a Greater Sage-grouse?  Largest grouse species in North America  Permanent resident, move short distances to lower elevations for winter.  Eat sagebrush, insects and other plants.  Elaborate courtship rituals in the spring when males congregate around “leks”  Obligate residents of the sagebrush ecosystems, usually sagebrush- grassland communities. 37

Why their Conservation is Important  Estimated decline of 80 to 90 % from pre-settlement numbers?.  2010: US Fish and Wildlife “warranted but precluded candidate species” due to “lack of adequate regulatory mechanisms.”  2011: court settlement – USFWS will make a ESA listing determination by Sep BLM/FS manage over 50% of the existing sage grouse occupied habitat. Need to amend/revise 98 land use plans to incorporate “adequate regulatory mechanisms”

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy BLM/FS Planning Area Structure 2 Regions Great Basin Rocky Mountain 15 Sub-regions/EISs Great Basin (All Amendments) Oregon, Nevada/NE California, Idaho/SW Montana, and Utah Rocky Mountain (Revisions & Amendments) NW Colorado, WY 9 Plan, Lander Revision (WY), Bighorn Basin Revision (WY), Buffalo Revision (WY), Billings/Pompey’s Pillar NM Revision (MT), Lewistown Amendment (MT), HiLine Revision (MT), Miles City Revision (MT), South Dakota Revision, North Dakota Amendment 98 LUPs Being Amended (includes BLM and FS) 39

BLM FS National Planning Strategy- Conservation at a Landscape Scale 40 Science and Geospatial Integration Monitoring for Adaptive Management: collect habitat data to monitor land use planning effectiveness Regional Assessments: Baseline Environmental Report Land Use Plans: Adequate “regulatory mechanisms” to conserve species Regional Conservation Strategy: USFWS Conservation Objectives Team Report Implementation: Authorize uses, projects, and permits in conformance with land use plans

 Early 2013: USGS published “Summary of Science, Activities, Programs, and Policies That Influence the Rangewide Conservation of Greater Sage- Grouse.” Referred to as the Baseline Environmental Report.  Established baseline conditions for land use planning analysis purposes.  Documents “best available science.” 41 Identifying Baseline Conditions

 2013: USFW released the Conservation Objectives Team (COT) Report  Team made up of state and USFWS representatives  Defined objectives that would ameliorate threats to sage-grouse  Identified threats to sage- grouse by population areas  Identified “Priority Areas for Conservation” 42 Identifying Threats – COT Report

43 Identifying Threats – COT Report Population/ PACs # Isolated Small Size Sagebrush Elimination Agriculture Conversion Fire Conifers Weeds/Annual Grasses Energy Mining Infrastructure Grazing Free-roaming Equids Recreation Urbanization 14YYYYYYYY 15c LLL YYY LL YYYY 26a LL YYY LL YY L YY 30YYYYYYYYYYY 31 LL YYY LL L YY

 2014: BLM/FS released draft land use plans and draft environmental impact assessments for public comment  Conducting land use plan cumulative effects analysis at the biologically significant scale – WAFWA Management Zone  Final plans will use the COT objectives as grading rubric.  Plans to be finalized in Spring 2015 for USFWS consideration. 44 Amending Land Use Plans and Conducting Analysis

 All BLM/FS authorizations in sage-grouse habitat must comply with land use plan decisions (regulatory mechanisms)  Managing anthropogenic disturbances through caps.  Restrictive land use plan allocations  Commitment to establish regional WAFWA Management Zone Conservation groups to develop regional mitigation strategies and assist with adaptive management implementation. 45 Implementing the Land Use Plans

 Collect data at multiple scales (site, mid, and broad scales)  monitor habitat conditions and  evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the land use plans disturbance caps adaptive management hard and soft triggers 46 Monitoring for Adaptive Management

Planning at a Landscape Scale - Challenges  Planning Structure  Consistency across jurisdictional boundaries  Existing Planning Regulatory Framework  Adapting to changing conditions and threats  Authority & Capacity  Balancing local needs and landscape conservation 47

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Focusing Funding from Multiple Sources to Restore and Enhance Landscape Resilience

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 BLM Mission It is the mission of the Bureau of Land Management to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October Organizational Levels 50 National BLM State Office BLM District Office BLM Field Office

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October Resource Directorates 51 Renewable Resources and Planning Energy, Minerals and Realty Management National Landscape Conservation System Fire and Aviation

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Divisions in Renewable Resources and Planning Decision Support, Planning, and NEPA Forest, Rangeland, Riparian, and Plant Conservation Wildlife Conservation (Wildlife, Fish, T&E) Cultural, Paleontological Resources and Tribal Consultation Recreation and Visitor Services Wild Horse and Burro Environmental Quality and Protection

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 The Intersection of Programmatic and Organizational Levels 53 Renewable Resources and Planning Energy, Minerals and Realty Management National Landscape Conservation System Fire and Aviation National BLM State Office BLM District Office BLM Field Office

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Partners & Priorities at Each Intersection 54 Renewable Resources and Planning Energy, Minerals and Realty Management National Landscape Conservation System Fire and Aviation National BLM State Office BLM District Office BLM Field Office Partners & Priorities

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Purpose: Local Project to Restore and Enhance Resilience

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Local Partners (Fed, State, NGO, Tribes, landowners, Business) with shared purpose unite to get the work done

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Support from funding sources at a state, regional, &/or national level(s) gets the Project started

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Shifts in priority or lack of shared purpose at all organizational levels may break the funding chain in subsequent years/project phases

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 What would it take to increase coordination at higher organizational levels?

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Given the resource concern, work should be conducted somewhere else Where the Project IS

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Given the resource concern, work should be conducted somewhere else Where the Project IS Administrative Boundary

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Given the resource concern, work should be conducted somewhere else Where the Project IS Where the Project Would Best Meet Objectives

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 New Policy (IM ) Identification of Multi-Year Funding Priorities and Consideration for Healthy Lands Focal Areas BLM will identify Focal Areas for multi-year funding priority and will consider opportunities to invest in these areas before looking elsewhere (appropriated dollars, regional mitigation funds ) First step: State Offices worked on an interdisciplinary basis, with partners to identify priority areas for landscape projects.

64 Regionally Identified Priority Areas for Landscape Projects -Draft, 10/20/2014)

National Workshop on Large Landscape Conservation Washington, DC -- October 2014 Questions and Comments Thank you!