Land Trust News

Kelly Kountz Photo / Courtesy of Gallatin Valley Land Trust

On Display: Diverse Benefits of the LWCF

The film Saving the Land and Water Conservation Fund does a good job within its nine-minute running time of showcasing the diverse benefits produced by the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The film stars Ed Arnett of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, who wanders in and around Missoula within the film, talking with people like Land Tawny, Pelah Hoyt, Jim Stone, David Mannix, Missoula Mayor John Engen and others. The film explores the economic, local business, conservation, agricultural, parks and trails, outdoor recreation and access benefits Montana directly derives from the LWCF. Public lands. Family farms and ranches. City parks. Wildlife habitat. Open space. Scenic areas. Access and recreation. All are on display. Unless the program is reauthorized, the LWCF will expire in about five weeks.

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Montana Land Reliance Speaker Series Features Sandhill Cranes

The Montana Land Reliance and the WCS Community Partnerships Summer Speaker Series will focus on sandhill cranes on Sept. 4 at the Kelly Ranch near Bozeman. The event starts at 6:00 PM and will include a presentation by Patrick Donnelly of the Intermountain West Joint Venture and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, plus samples from local breweries.

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Montana Land Trusts Participate in Congressional Forum

At the invitation of Montana Senator Steve Daines, the Montana land trust community was front and center during the August 17 Western Congressional Foundation’s Summer Western Policy Roundtable discussion in Bozeman. Mark Lambrecht of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mark Aagenes of The Nature Conservancy in Montana, and Glenn Marx of the Montana Association of Land Trusts, all had the opportunity to weigh in on a variety of national natural resource and agricultural policy matters. Other agricultural, timber, mining, federal agency, and conservation voices highlighted natural resource issues, problems, and recommendations. Senator Daines, a co-chair of the congressional Western Caucus Foundation, together with Foundation co-chair Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ), led the discussion. Mark at RMEF focused his remarks on elk habitat and forest management, Mark at TNC discussed forest health and creative ways to generate new and expand markets for wood products, and Glenn at MALT focused on the importance of the ALE Program and more specifically on the problems with ALE Management Plans. We appreciated the opportunity to participate in the Roundtable and engage in policy discussions with Caucus members.

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Senator Daines Doubles Down In Support of LWCF

Montana Senator Steve Daines told a group of land trusts that he was supportive of Land and Water Conservation Fund permanent reauthorization and full funding, and was “doubling down on every possible avenue we have to get this reauthorized before Sept. 30.” The LWCF will expire at the end of September unless it is reauthorized. At an event at Helena’s Spring Meadow Park, Sen. Daines met with MALT members The Nature Conservancy, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Prickly Pear Land Trust, and voiced his continuing commitment to LWCF reauthorization and funding.

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MALT Newsletter Highlights Photo From Wildlands Festival

The MALT August 13 newsletter contains a photo from the August 10 Wildlands Festival in which two land trusts – The Montana Land Reliance and Gallatin Valley Land Trust – received donations from the Festival producer, Outlaw Partners. The Festival featured performances from Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real, and headliner Robert Earl Keen.

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Rally Early-Bird Registration Ends August 13

The 2018 National Land Conservation Conference – aka Rally – is set for Pittsburgh, PA on Oct. 11-13, but early-bird registration incentives end on August 13. Visit the Land Trust Alliance website for complete information about Rally speakers, seminars, workshops, tours, attendees, registration information and more. People and organizations that registration August 13 or before save $90 per registration.

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Gallatin Valley Land Trust NextGen Pedal Parade is Sept. 12

Gallatin Valley Land Trust wonders if you’re ready to gather your favorite homies for a celebration of an amazing summer on the trails! Are you up for spinning around in costume on your jazzed up bike and go for a ride to try and hit all the designated trail stops around town for chances to win outstanding prizes? If so, then the GVLT Sept. 12 NextGen Pedal Parade is for you. Better yet, BBQ and beer await you when your pedaling stops.

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