Current conifer removal efforts across sagebrush ecosystems in the Great Basin may not be keeping pace with the rate of conifer expansion (Reinhardt et al. 2020), and accelerated management in priority watersheds is likely needed to maintain or increase the amount of useable space for sage-grouse and other sagebrush-obligates. Conifer expansion is a widespread and serious threat to the maintenance of sagebrush ecosystems and obligate species and our findings support the hypothesis that large-scale but targeted mechanical conifer removal, such as that conducted in our study area, can be an effective method of alleviating this threat to sage-grouse. Our findings lend support to land managers that are continuing to employ these landscape restoration methods and benefit the species that inhabit ecosystems affected by conifer expansion.
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