Columbia Plateau Conservation Strategy

Sagebrush birds tell us it’s time to act. 

The shrub-steppe is an iconic arid land ecosystem of native shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers that defines much of the Columbia Plateau. Spanning across millions of acres in Eastern Washington, Northern Oregon and part of Western Idaho, this landscape has long supported a rich diversity of plants, birds and other wildlife. It also holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous peoples and local communities who have stewarded these lands for generations. 

Today, this ecosystem faces increasing pressure from habitat loss, fragmentation, invasive species, and altered fire regimes, threats that put both wildlife and communities at risk. Without immediate and sustained action to restore habitat and improve ecosystem resilience, species such as the state-endangered Greater Sage-Grouse are unlikely to persist in Washington. Protecting the shrub-steppe is not only about conserving biodiversity; it is also about honoring cultural connections and sustaining the ecological and economic foundations that support communities across the region. 

 Audubon Washington’s Wings Over Working Lands program focuses on one of the most important opportunities for bird conservation: the working lands that make up much of the remaining shrub-steppe. By partnering with ranchers, engaging local communities, and aligning science, policy, and on-the-ground conservation, we implement practices that directly improve habitat for shrub-steppe birds while supporting the people who manage these landscapes. Through this approach, Audubon Washington is advancing solutions that sustain both bird populations and the long-term health and resilience of the Columbia Plateau. 

Our Approach 

Audubon’s work in the Columbia Plateau is grounded in a simple principle: conserving birds at scale requires working with the people who manage the land. Because much of the remaining shrub-steppe exists on working lands, our approach focuses on partnerships with ranchers and local communities to implement science-based practices that improve habitat for birds while supporting viable operations. 

Over the past decade, we have built strong public-private partnerships and expanded grassroots engagement to increase conservation impact across the landscape. As threats to the shrub-steppe continue to grow, this work has become more urgent and created opportunities to align community-driven solutions with regional conservation priorities. 

We prioritize the protection and management of remaining shrub-steppe habitats through on-the-ground conservation, applied science, and targeted monitoring. This includes advancing practices that improve habitat conditions for priority bird species, addressing key knowledge gaps in species distribution and habitat use, and advancing our work with the Washington Shrub-Steppe Restoration and Resilience Initiative (WSRRI). We also engage in policy and planning efforts, including renewable energy siting, to ensure development is compatible with long-term habitat conservation. 

By integrating community engagement, science, and practical land management, Audubon Washington is working to deliver durable conservation outcomes that support healthy bird populations, resilient ecosystems, and the communities that depend on them.