Stevensville, MT
Triple D Ranch (conserved by Bitter Root Land Trust)
Missoula, MT
Oxbow Cattle Company (conserved by Five Valleys Land Trust)
Churchill, MT
LF Dairy (conserved by Gallatin Valley Land Trust)
MEET MALTThe vibrant communities of Montana are the driving force behind preserving the state’s natural beauty, agricultural heritage, and world-class recreation opportunities. The Montana Association of Land Trusts (MALT), comprised of 11 member organizations, focuses on voluntary, landowner-driven conservation through the exercise of private property rights. Together, MALT and its members work with private landowners to protect Montana’s open landscapes, multigenerational family farms and ranches, clean drinking water, healthy fisheries, and pristine wildlife habitat.
- UniteMontana’s nonprofit land trusts and public agencies have been working cooperatively with willing landowners for over 40 years to achieve their conservation goals. From our densely forested mountain ranges with low lying valleys and abundant rivers and lakes, to sweeping grassland plains and everywhere in between, MALT members provide diverse and broad value through projects and activities to preserve Montana’s special way of life for future generations.
- AdvocateMALT works to coordinate its members on local, state and national program and policy efforts, and serves essentially as a policy leader for its membership. MALT is officially registered with the Montana Secretary of State and is headquartered in Helena, Montana. MALT staff engages regularly with state officials, the Montana Legislature, and federal officials on a wide range of policies and programs, including the federal Farm Bill, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Montana’s open land statute, trails and parks programs, and more.
- EducateWith a laser focus on critical conservation policy, legal issues, current events related to land stewardship and community outreach, MALT works to ensure its members and their communities are armed and prepared with the best resources and tools possible to further Montana land conservation.
2,600
Existing conservation easements in Montana
3M
Acres of farm and ranch ground conserved in perpetuity
30,000
Jobs generated by the agricultural industry
Working for Montana Agriculture
Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry, a $5 billion industry responsible for over 30,000 jobs. Montana’s roughly 27,000 farms and ranches spanning over 58 million acres produce food to feed Montana, America, and the world – of which 3 million acres of open land is conserved in perpetuity through conservation easements. This report focuses on the economic value of conservation easements.
Member Land Trusts
A strong and shared future. MALT works with the membership to support excellence in private voluntary land conservation in Montana through leadership, collaboration, education and outreach.
On the Shoulders of Giants
Enjoy a 21-minute film celebrating the vision and passion behind four decades of private land conservation in Montana.
Stories of Stewardship
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