New Faces in Sagebrush Conservation Capacity
Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands established two new positions to advance the many facets of conservation that are needed to secure sagebrush habitat. Developing partnerships in communities across the West takes time, credibility, and relationship building among public and private entities. Here are two individuals who are passionate about this type of work and conserving this special landscape. Stay tuned to learn more about their successes!
Samantha Lange
Range and Wildlife Conservationist - Pheasants Forever
Burley, Idaho
In my position as a Range and Wildlife Conservationist in Burley, Idaho, I am working to further efforts in restoration on sagebrush landscapes across Cassia County in southeast Idaho. As I begin this role, I am completing current projects and starting new ones such as juniper removal, native seedings, sagebrush plantings, and stream restoration. In addition, I am working to leverage funds and support for these activities and build relationships with the multiple partners working with Pheasants Forever. I am also responsible for providing important assistance to partners and landowners on technical conservation issues such as sage grouse biology, enacting conservation plans, and sagebrush restoration science.
I graduated from Colorado State University with a dual degree in Natural Resource Management and Rangeland Ecology with a concentration in Restoration Ecology. I have worked in both the private and federal sectors implementing restoration projects across a wide variety of landscapes. I am very interested in restoration projects at a landscape and regional scale and how collaboration and partnership efforts can aid in preserving landscapes across the West. I also have a strong interest in stream and fisheries restoration as well as pollinator habitat connectivity and restoration. I am originally from Colorado and in my free time I enjoy fishing, camping, gardening, reading, and paddle boarding.
Mariah McIntosh
Technical Transfer Specialist - University of Montana
Missoula, Montana
I joined the Intermountain West Joint Venture (IWJV) in 2020 to support capacity building for science and technical transfer related to sagebrush restoration within Partnering to Conserve Sagebrush Rangelands. My most significant project so far has been enhancing the understanding of how the IWJV can better support the Bureau of Land Management and other partners in accessing, interpreting, and applying science related to conifer removal. This will help to inform and improve sagebrush ecosystem management and restoration.
At the moment, I’m a PhD student at the University of Montana studying how trees respond to drought. I’m passionate about working in the nexus of restoration science, policy, and implementation. I grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, and moved to Missoula to pursue my undergraduate degree from the University of Montana in Biology with minors in Climate Change Studies and Wilderness Studies. Outside of academia, you’ll find me trail running, mountain biking, backpacking, and swimming in high mountain lakes. I also love growing and eating food to fuel my outdoor adventures.