• Home
  • How We Work
  • Where We Work
  • News Room
  • About Us
  • My Nature Page

The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America


 

Community Conservation

Hay bales in the Blackfoot Valley
the Blackfoot Valley    © Jim Steinberg 

Making headway in the Blackfoot Valley

 

Montana’s Blackfoot Valley is rural and wild, unspoiled by the rapid development occurring in many scenic valleys throughout the West. And it looks like it could stay that way, thanks to the leadership of the local landowner community and the support of The Nature Conservancy.

 

The Conservancy is purchasing thousands of acres of Plum Creek timber company lands – scenic mid-elevation lands ringing the Blackfoot Valley – and re-selling them with conservation restrictions according to a community plan developed by the Blackfoot Challenge, a local watershed collaborative.

 

As of December '07, the Conservancy has purchased all 89,000 acres as part of the project. It has re-sold more than 32,480 acres into public ownership. These lands are important wildlife habitat and are vital to the region’s grizzly bear population. 

 

“When Plum Creek decided to sell these lands, we knew we had a unique opportunity to come up with a plan that would protect the natural and rural character of the larger landscape,” said Jim Stone, a local rancher and chair of the Blackfoot Challenge.

 

The Challenge convened public meetings throughout the valley. “What we've heard over and over from local residents is support for maintaining the valley’s tradition of ranching, forestry, wildlife and public access,” said Stone.

 

The Blackfoot Challenge has a long history of conservation in the Blackfoot Valley, and the Conservancy has long been a partner in projects aimed at restoring wetlands, keeping ranchlands intact through conservation easements, protecting the river’s prized fishery and maintaining and improving the habitat for grizzlies, lynx, moose and nearly 236 bird and waterfowl species. 

 

Because of the public’s desire for continued access and habitat protection for sensitive species, more than half of the purchased lands will be sold to public agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, since these agencies own adjacent properties.

 

At the heart of the project is the purchase of the Blackfoot Community Conservation Area around Ovando Mountain in the valley’s center that would allow sustainable forestry, grazing and public access, and protect the elk migration routes and the riparian corridors used by grizzlies.

 

The remainder of the land will be sold, with conservation restrictions, to adjacent ranchers and other private buyers.