Juniper trees dot a sea of sagebrush stretching for many miles in Harney County, Ore., on Dec. 18, 2025.
Eli Imadali / OPB
Vast expanses of the American West, including parts of Central and Eastern Oregon, share a unique ecosystem characterized by sagebrush, wildflowers and a wide array of perennial grasses. This “sagebrush sea” is one of the largest contiguous ecotypes in the U.S., but it faces increasing threats from wildfire, invasive species and development.
A new tool aims to help land managers quickly assess the health of these vast regions. Conservation groups, state and federal agencies and local leaders partnered to create digital maps that provide a broad view of where sagebrush ecosystems are thriving and where they hang in the balance.
Anya Tyson is the Oregon Sagebrush Sea Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, which helped create the maps. She joins us to share more.
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