The President vs the Sage-Grouse
The territory of the Greater Sage-Grouse is under threat in the state of Oregon and in other places in the American West. Credit: Jeannie Stafford/USFS
This week’s story update on the Election Central Web site examines the impact of some Trump Administration environmental goals on western animal fauna.
On December 6, the Department of the Interior announced a proposal to open up millions of acres in the Western United States for mining, drilling, and other resource extraction. This should come as no surprise: one of the hallmarks of the current administration is its desire to roll back government restrictions on energy development. The problem is that many of these areas are federally protected under the 2015 Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan. Currently, 11 million acres are protected. Under the new proposal, 80% of this protected land would be opened to mining and drilling.
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Credit: McGraw-Hill Education