Management Issues
The sagebrush steppe has changed greatly from pre-European settlement. Management issues and practices have been the primary factor of change in the past and hold the key to future ecosystem restoration.
Fragmentation and Development
Natural resource managers and researchers have become increasingly aware of the negative consequences that fragmentation and development can have on sagebrush steppe landscapes. By themselves, development generally shrinks available habitat and fragmentation reduces the abundance of large, contiguous habitat patches.
Energy Development
There are many issues facing the NW High Desert sagebrush steppe. Degraded habitats, altered disturbance regimes and invading weeds have been recognized as challenges, while climate change and energy development are currently emerging issues with potentially negative impacts on sagebrush steppe.
Fire
Fire is an integral part of the sagebrush steppe landscape; historically acting as a disturbance to NW High Desert, opening patches for regeneration and creating a heterogeneous landscape. Though fire is still a valid management option, it presents many challenges.
Grazing
Grazing has been the primary human use of the NW High Desert sagebrush steppe since the arrival of European settlers. While inappropriate livestock management has been detrimental to the sagebrush steppe in the past, land managers are now realizing the potential of grazing as a management tool to assist with habitat protection.
Juniper
Although western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) is native to the NW High Desert, its rapid expansion into the sagebrush steppe over the last 130 years is cause for concern. The increased range is attributed to changes in temperature, precipitation, and fire interval.
Recreation
Recreational opportunities abound on the NW High Desert and provide valuable economic support for rural communities. However, human presence in the sagebrush steppe backcountry also creates management challenges such as wildlife disturbance, weed seed dispersal, and soil erosion.
Weeds
One of the greatest challenges to the sagebrush steppe is the ongoing invasion by non-native plants. These plants have been introduced primarily through seed and hay, and have spread aggressively through the sagebrush steppe, reducing biodiversity and forage resources, altering the structure of wildlife habitat and drastically altering natural disturbance regimes.
