dedication point - season 4, episode 2: Strategic Conservation in the Sage-Steppe with Chad Boyd
chad boyd, rangeland scientist and research leader with the eastern oregon agriculture research center, has been working on ecosystem restoration in the great basin region since 1999, and has developed a new strategic approach designed to help land managers dealing with annual grass invasions and increased wildfire.
episode summary:
We’re in our fourth season of Dedication Point, and our theme this year is restoration. Habitat degradation caused by the invasion of non-native annual grasses, increased wildfire, as well as a warming climate presents enormous challenges for land managers. Restoration is a complex process, and historic efforts to restore native plant species in sage-steppe ecosystems have often failed to produce positive results.
This week’s interview is focused on the strategic challenges associated with restoring sage-steppe ecosystems in the Great Basin. Our guest is Chad Boyd, a Rangeland Scientist and Research Leader who has been based in Eastern Oregon and working on restoration projects since 1999. His work is focused on establishing strategic decision-making protocols for land managers looking to restore sage-steppe ecosystems across the Great Basin. Despite the enormity of the problem, Chad is optimistic about the future of these landscapes, and I hope this optimism rubs off on some of our listeners!
relevant links:
More information and fact sheet focused on the Sagebrush Conservation Design