Amended Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-grouse (Proposed)

The Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse in Canada was posted on the SARA Public Registry in January 2008. Section 2.6 (Critical Habitat) was replaced in October, 2009. This 2013 Amended Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse is for the purposes of [1] Amending all sections of the Recovery Strategy based on the most current information; [2] Amending the Replacement of Section 2.6 based on updated information; [3] Identifying critical habitat throughout the species’ recent range in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Canada (Lungle and Pruss 2008) was posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry in January 2008. Section 2.6 (Critical Habitat section) of the 2008 Recovery Strategy was replaced in October, 2009 (Parks Canada Agency 2009).

Under Section 45 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the competent Minister may amend a recovery strategy at any time. This 2013 Amended Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage- Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Canada (hereafter, ‘Amended Recovery Strategy’) is for the purposes of:

• Amending all sections of the Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Canada (Lungle and Pruss 2008), based on the most current information
• Amending the Replacement of Section 2.6 of the Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Canada (Parks Canada Agency 2009), based on updated information
• Identifying critical habitat throughout the species’ recent range in Alberta and Saskatchewan

Since 2008, when the Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse in Canada (Lungle and Pruss 2008) was written, the Guidelines for Completing Federal Recovery Strategy Templates (part of a series of Species At Risk Act Implementation Guidance documents) have been updated considerably. Hence, this Amended Recovery Strategy has been updated in accordance with the most recent Tri-departmental Recovery Strategy Template and the associated guidelines.

This Amended Recovery Strategy is being posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry for a 60-day comment period. At the time of final posting, the Amended Recovery Strategy will replace the 2008 Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Canada (Lungle and Pruss 2008), including the Replacement of Section 2.6 of the Recovery Strategy for the Greater Sage-Grouse in Canada (Parks Canada Agency 2009).