Nature Conservancy

The West is home to some of the nation’s most cherished lands. However, private owners hold a disproportionably high percentage of the most ecologically productive land. This grant to the Nature Conservancy will help protect 166,500 acres of privately held land in Montana and Washington, owned by the Plum Creek Timber Company. The lands to be acquired are habitat for gray wolves, wolverine, lynx, bull trout, and steelhead (all imperiled species), and offer significant recreational opportunities for local communities. The Conservancy would use the grant to pay for necessary appraisals, the preparation of legal documents, and other materials necessary to convey title to the land.