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• The Nature Conservancy Thanks Senator Max Baucus for Dedication to Montana Conservation

  Helena, MT
  April 24, 2013 2013 04 24

  The Nature Conservancy President and CEO, Mark R. Tercek expresses the organization’s sadness and gratitude to U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) following the announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2014.
  
   Learn More

• Gifts of Conservation

  January 02, 2013 2013 01 02

  The Nature Conservancy ended 2012 with three superb additions to conservation in Montana -- a total of 23,641 acres within the lush Swan Valley, the sweeping Northern Prairie, and the sagebrush of Southwest Montana. Learn More

• Gifts of Conservation

  Helena, MT
  Topic (Conservation Lands)
  January 02, 2013 2013 01 02

  The Nature Conservancy ended 2012 with three superb additions to conservation in Montana -- a total of 23,641 acres within the lush Swan Valley, the sweeping Northern Prairie, and the sagebrush of Southwest Montana. We're grateful to our partners, supporters, and staff who made these tremendous contributions possible. Learn More

• Bee Hall Receives Conservation Partner Award

  Helena, MT
  August 29, 2012 2012 08 29

  Bee Hall, Associate Director of The Nature Conservancy in Montana has been recognized as the 2012 Conservation Partner by the Intermountain West Joint Venture Management Board Awards Committee. Learn More

• Nature Conservancy Adds Vital Link to Missoula Trails

  Missoula, MT
  August 10, 2012 2012 08 10

   The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Forest Service have connected some of Missoula’s most popular local trails in the Deer Creek area. The latest USFS purchase of 2,189 acres at the lower end of Deer Creek Road and around the base of University Mountain also creates future connection opportunities with the popular Kim Williams Trail. Learn More

• Tim Swanson Wins National Wetlands Award

  Helena, MT
  March 13, 2012 2012 03 13

  The retired Nature Conservancy staffer is honored for work in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Learn More

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• THE NATURE CONSERVANCY SUPPORTS FUNDING FOR MONTANA PARKS AND OPEN LAND

  Helena, Montana
  6 November, 2009

  Poll shows Americans support federal funding for conservation despite economic downturn Learn More

• Making Wind Energy Safe for Wildlife

  HELENA, MT
  February 18, 2009 2009 02 18

  New Analysis Indentifies Areas With High Wind Potential and Low Environmental Risk Learn More

• Turning a Page in Conservation History

  HELENA, MONTANA
  December 1, 2010 2010 12 01

    Learn More

Canada Passes Law Protecting the North Fork

 

HELENA, MT -- The government of British Columbia, has approved legislation that protects the pristine North Fork of the Flathead River from the threats of mining and oil and gas development. The Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act prohibits mining and energy extraction activities on nearly 400,000 acres of land within the Canadian portion of the river basin. 

 

The legislation fulfills an historic agreement announced in 2010 between Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and former British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell to prohibit mining activities  within the transboundary river basin. Earlier this year, The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy of Canada, two non-profit conservation organizations, are committed to raising $9.4 million dollars to assist with the costs of ending mining, oil and gas, and coal exploration in the area.

 

Kat Imhoff, Director of The Nature Conservancy in Montana, says the effort is one of good neighbors and smart visionaries,

 

“This reaches beyond borders and even beyond the people and wildlife that depend on the river today. We ‘re making sure that our grandchildren and their children won’t just have a place to fish or float, but  that they’ll still have a world with wild places for grizzlies to roam and the water remains pure.”

 

The Flathead River system is part of the 10-million-acre Crown of the Continent, and the major river feeding Flathead Lake in Montana. It forms the western boundary of Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park, and has been named both a Wild and Scenic River and World Heritage Site.  The Flathead anchors a multi-million dollar recreation economy in Montana and is cherished by visitors from around the world. The river basin has the highest density of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states and provides vital habitat for elk, wolverine, fisher and Canada lynx. Bull trout, a federally listed threatened species, thrive here in the clean, cold and pristine streams.

 

“A healthy and free-flowing Flathead river is good for people and wildlife on both sides of the border. This bi-national effort gives hope to communities whose economies rely on the river and to iconic wildlife that represent the spirit of the West,” said Dr. Richard Jeo, a biologist and director for The Nature Conservancy’s Canada Program.

 

On the U.S. side, 80 percent of the mineral and energy development leases already have been retired, and legislation has been introduced by U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester that will retire the remaining leases.

 

The Nature Conservancy’s Canada Program and Nature Conservancy Canada are unaffiliated. The two non-profit organizations share many conservation priorities and they have built a long- standing relationship in places such as the Flathead River Basin.

 

 

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The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.  To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have helped protect 130 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org/northfork.

 

 

Canada Passes Law Protecting the North Fork

 

HELENA, MT -- The government of British Columbia, has approved legislation that protects the pristine North Fork of the Flathead River from the threats of mining and oil and gas development. The Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act prohibits mining and energy extraction activities on nearly 400,000 acres of land within the Canadian portion of the river basin. 

 

The legislation fulfills an historic agreement announced in 2010 between Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and former British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell to prohibit mining activities  within the transboundary river basin. Earlier this year, The Nature Conservancy and Nature Conservancy of Canada, two non-profit conservation organizations, are committed to raising $9.4 million dollars to assist with the costs of ending mining, oil and gas, and coal exploration in the area.

 

Kat Imhoff, Director of The Nature Conservancy in Montana, says the effort is one of good neighbors and smart visionaries,

 

“This reaches beyond borders and even beyond the people and wildlife that depend on the river today. We ‘re making sure that our grandchildren and their children won’t just have a place to fish or float, but that they’ll still have a world with wild places for grizzlies to roam and the water remains pure.”

 

The Flathead River system is part of the 10-million-acre Crown of the Continent, and the major river feeding Flathead Lake in Montana. It forms the western boundary of Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park, and has been named both a Wild and Scenic River and World Heritage Site. The Flathead anchors a multi-million dollar recreation economy in Montana and is cherished by visitors from around the world. The river basin has the highest density of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states and provides vital habitat for elk, wolverine, fisher and Canada lynx. Bull trout, a federally listed threatened species, thrive here in the clean, cold and pristine streams.

 

“A healthy and free-flowing Flathead river is good for people and wildlife on both sides of the border. This bi-national effort gives hope to communities whose economies rely on the river and to iconic wildlife that represent the spirit of the West,” said Dr. Richard Jeo, a biologist and director for The Nature Conservancy’s Canada Program.

 

On the U.S. side, 80 percent of the mineral and energy development leases already have been retired, and legislation has been introduced by U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester that will retire the remaining leases.

 

The Nature Conservancy’s Canada Program and Nature Conservancy Canada are unaffiliated. The two non-profit organizations share many conservation priorities and they have built a long- standing relationship in places such as the Flathead River Basin.

 

 

###

 

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.  To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have helped protect 130 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www.nature.org/northfork.