News for Immediate Release
July 13, 2022
Contact: Katie McKalip, 406-240-9262, [email protected]
Multi-use nature of Lost Trail property will conserve wildlife habitat and migration corridors, provide hunter and angler access, and continue sustainable timber harvest
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Montana chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers applauded an announcement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today that formally established the 38,000-plus acre Lost Trail Conservation Area in northwest Montana as the newest addition to the National Wildlife Refuge System.
BHA emphasized the multi-use nature of the Lost Trail property, which will facilitate acquisition of future conservation easements, provide valuable wildlife habitat and connectivity corridors, and offer permanent access opportunities for hunters and anglers, while also allowing sustainable forest management practices to continue, bolstering the local economy.
Montana BHA has been actively engaged in the multi-year process that compiled input from diverse stakeholders with the goal of conserving valuable big-game corridors and public access opportunities in the state.
“Acquisitions of new refuge system conservation easements provide an invaluable resource to members of the public, particularly as our lands and waters face increasing pressure from recreational users,” said Montana BHA Chapter Coordinator Kevin Farron. “Conserving our lands and protecting public access in perpetuity helps absorb recreational pressures while enhancing the natural resource user experience.”
The acquisition was made possible thanks to leadership and cooperation from the Trust for Public Lands, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and existing landowners, the Southern Pine Plantations Montana. The protections were funded thanks to the use of Land and Water Conservation Fund monies. The LWCF has played a critical role in generating access and opportunity for Montanans for over 50 years. BHA successfully advocated for permanent reauthorization of the LWCF through the Dingell Act and for full funding of the LWCF through the Great American Outdoors Act.
“This type of collaborative solution between private landowners and the USFWS exemplifies what Montanans want to see from our land management agencies,” Farron stated. “We commend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Trust for Public Lands, CSKT and Southern Pine Plantations Montana for listening to the will of Montanans and seeing the project through to completion.”
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice for our wild public lands, waters and wildlife.
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