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In 2005 ODFW first published the Oregon Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy (linked below), which combines feedback from other organizations, agencies, and individuals across the state to identify how ODFW would manage sage-grouse populations; additionally, the document highlights landscape measures that could be implemented across the state with sage-grouse habitat in mind. Within this document, five Local Implementation Teams (LITs) were first identified. The purpose of the LITs is to use local knowledge and input to determine what the local interests are that meet sage-grouse needs while fulfilling the needs of the people who own, manage, and utilize these large and diverse landscapes.
In 2015 ODFW published the Oregon Sage-Grouse State Action Plan. The intent of this plan was to identify all actions and conservation measures that can be implemented across central and eastern Oregon that either address sage-grouse population or habitat concerns. The document identified more than 300 actions and the group or organization best suited to implement those actions; the LITs are identified as the best suited group to coordinate approximately two thirds of those actions. While the LITs do not have authority to direct management actions for any landowner/land administrator, recommendations provided by the LITs are intended to help inform land management actions and provide opportunities for collaboration across public and private land.
Due to a lack of coordination capacity, all 5 LITs stopped meeting by 2012. However, ODFW and partners across the state acknowledged that the most effective method to implement sage-grouse conservation measures is through locally driven, landscape scale collaborative efforts and renewed the effort to support LITs. ODFW's concept of Local Implementation Teams and financial investment attracted many additional supporters including OWEB, BLM, NRCS, Intermountain West Joint Venture, and Baker County, who support LITs in 5 regions, covering Oregon's sage-grouse habitat.
Every aspect of these collaborative groups is voluntary and non-regulatory. All five LITs are open to any individual or organization with an interest and/or investment in sagebrush landscape conservation.
If you have questions about Oregon's LIT program please contact Rachael Davee, SageCon Coordinator, or click the links below to learn more about a specific local team.
| Local Implementation Teams |
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