Sagebrush rangelands occupy 76 million hectares across western North America and provide a wide range of ecosystem services, notably wildlife habitat. However, these sagebrush rangelands are being transformed by combinations of wildfire, invasive species, and drought.

A newly published dataset, developed by the NC CASC in partnership with ClimateToolbox.org, provides detailed projections of the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) for the contiguous United States.

North American grasslands, which span vast territories across the continent, are important yet often overlooked ecosystems in climate policy and conservation efforts. Bernath-Plaisted et al. (2025) developed the Grassland Adaptation Menu, a structured guide designed to support managers in implementing climate resilience strategies tailored to grassland ecosystems.

Birds are good indicators of ecosystem health. In the new 2025 "State of the Birds", it's reported that over one-third of U.S. bird species are in trouble, with 112 “Tipping Point” species having lost more than half their populations in just 50 years. But it’s not all bad news: the report also highlights successful conservation efforts that have helped bird populations rebound.

Join the NC CASC on April 10 at 11am MT to learn about future changes in sagebrush ecosystems and current climate adaptation efforts!

The Sagebrush Conservation Design (SCD) is a tool to identify intact sagebrush areas and address the largest threats to the ecosystem. The SCD focuses on first protecting intact and functioning sagebrush ecosystems, called Core Sagebrush Areas, then works outward toward more degraded areas (i.e., “Defend the Core”).