The Interior Department has decided that the greater sage grouse does not qualify for the protected status of endangered species, according to the New York Times. The fate of the bird has been fiercely debated on both sides, with conservationists wanting the strictest protections while landowners and industrialists prefer less urgency so the birds' sagebrush habitat could be used for development for mines, windmills, power lines and other uses.

The final decision granted the greater sage grouse "warranted but precluded" status as a compromise, while giving endangered protection to other species with more imminent threats of extinction. The status of the greater sage grouse will be reviewed annually.

In the past century, it is estimated that greater sage grouse numbers have declined more than 90 percent and more than 50 percent of the birds' necessary sagebrush habitat has been destroyed. With this new status classification, states will be required to take stronger steps to preserve the birds' habitat.

Do you think "warranted but precluded" status is enough protection for the greater sage grouse? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Sagebrush Habitat
Photo © Robert Ashworth

Greater Sage Grouse Not Endangered originally appeared on About.com Birding / Wild Birds on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 10:53:34.

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