JACKSON - A conservation group has been commissioned to help land managers and industry determine what might be needed to help wildlife habitat in Wyoming's energy fields.

The Nature Conservancy, whose Wyoming headquarters are in Lander, is looking to help people think about ways to lessen harm to wildlife before drilling projects begin. The group also is working to assess what types of projects might work to boost habitat surrounding energy fields, according to Joe Kiesecker, a lead scientist for the conservancy in Wyoming.

The group received a grant from BP America Production Co. of about $150,000 to assess what can be done to help natural resources.

Kiesecker said the conservancy recommends a so-called "hierarchy of behaviors," which begins at "avoid," then moves to "minimize," "reclaim" and, finally, "offset."

He said the group is trying to "get out in front of oil and gas development and say, 'Here's a field that could be offset, but here's where offsets could not be used as a tool.'"

Kiesecker said the group is trying to use a "methodology" and "biological targets." With these, the group looks at the acreage of habitat of certain species being hurt by development. Then, the group tries to find places on the landscape that would recapture the impacted habitat. Those areas should also be areas that have a "low risk" of oil and gas development, he said.

The methodology will help the company determine where and how best to invest in conservation at the beginning, middle and end of its development projects, according to conservancy.

Kiesecker said during the past several months, Wyoming's scientists with the Nature Conservancy have worked together to understand "what's at stake" in managing off-site mitigation in the face of rising energy development.

The group will make recommendations based on where important wildlife habitat might be conserved. Recommendations will suggest optimal numbers of mountain plover, sage grouse, antelope, rare plants and more.

All species considered as part of this project are those affected by development of the Jonah Field, where BP is operating. Mule deer, for example, are not part of the study because the area is not crucial range for mule deer.

"Mitigation of energy development can no longer be an afterthought," Kiesecker said. "Before development occurs, industry needs to look at the site and plan to avoid sensitive areas."

Along with other conservation groups, the conservancy says there are certain areas that should be avoided altogether for energy development.