An agreement between The Nature Conservancy and the Lolo National Forest will soon permanently protect and open public access to more than 16,000 acres of land in western Montana.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation secured some funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to assist the sale.
“Not only does this conservation project secure long-term public access for hunters, anglers, hikers and others, but the scale to which management of wildlife habitat can take place is exceptional,” Jennifer Doherty, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation director of lands, told the Missoula Current. ““Eliminating problematic ownership patterns is an invitation for land managers to more effectively enhance wildlife habitat.”
(Photo source: Lolo National Forest)