ABSTRACT
Abstract. Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) as a potential threatened species is complicated, with considerable uncertainty regarding the ecology, different landscapes, relative effects of impacts to populations and habitats, and a diversity of stakeholders. Conservation goals can be developed for the species range-wide, but the objectives and strategies to achieve these goals are best tailored by ecoregion or at finer spatial scales. We illustrate the successful historical and contemporary conservation actions for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken in the Sand Shinnery Oak Ecoregion. The need for conservation actions within the agricultural community was recognized initially by long-time ranchers and farmers in eastern New Mexico. Early conservation actions were in response to severe population declines during the 1930s and principally involved state purchase of land in core habitats of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. However, land purchases were insufficient to curtail further population declines, which require public-private partnerships to increase the quantity and quality of Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat across the ecoregion. Interest in conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens grew among landowners in eastern New Mexico with the availability of governmental funding and other incentives. Development
of partnerships and collaborations for conservation were facilitated by the locally created and administered Grasslans Charitable Foundation [sic]. Multiple conservation strategies have made an investment of US$29 million in eastern New Mexico. More than 50,520 ha (124,835 acres) of potential and suitable habitat has been purchased and provided permanent protection for Lesser Prairie-Chickens. By 2013, beneficial conservation practices had been applied to >199,050 ha (491,863 acres) of private land. At the end of 2014, more than 1,171,940 ha (2,894,695 acres) had been enrolled in Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances and 780,348 ha (1,927,461 acres) have been enrolled in Candidate Conservation Agreements in eastern NM. Education and outreach efforts were essential to generate awareness of the status of Lesser Prairie-Chickens and develop and maintain societal support for conservation actions. It is critical to monitor population and habitat responses to conservation efforts to determine whether adaptations need to be made to management actions.
