The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is recommending approval of a 27,000-acre forest management project in northwest Montana that would “prevent residential and commercial development of the property while allowing the property to continue to be managed as a working forest.” The project is known as the Kootenai Forestlands Phase II Conservation Easement, and is funded by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program.

Under the proposal, FWP would hold the conservation easement and Stimson would retain ownership of the land and continue to sustainably manage it for timber production. The easement would preclude development, protect important wildlife habitat and key landscape connectivity, and provide permanent public access and recreational opportunities on the property.