A new report featuring western communities including Lincoln, MT, shows the value of recreation and conservation to rural community health and economic diversity and strength. The report was produced by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, and several land trusts and land trust partners are referenced within the report.

“The Heart of the Rockies Rural Development Program was developed on the premise that the success and sustainability of conservation in the Rocky Mountain West is inextricably linked to rural community vitality and economic well-being,” said Gary Burnett, Executive Director of the Heart of the Rockies Initiative. “In highlighting these four case studies, this report illustrates what can be accomplished when stakeholders recognize the alignment between these interconnected priorities.”