TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has directed two state agencies to develop a program for breeding lesser prairie chickens after the federal government listed the bird as a threatened species.

Brownback said Thursday that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will draft a plan for a program. The governor announced his action during a news conference in Dodge City amid an agri-business trade show.

The governor said the federal government must sign off on a breeding program, and he’ll seek its consent.

Brownback spokeswoman Eileen Hawley said the program would round up wild prairie chickens, breed them and release them.

The federal government listed the bird as threatened in March because of a sharp decline in its population. Brownback has been critical of the action.