320,000 acres of Montana bought by conservation societies
Purchase of Plum Creek Land in Montana Will Protect Working Forests, Promote Public Access, Protect Wildlife Habitat and Continue Sustainable Forestry
June 2008. Another huge land purchase in the US protects a vast swathe of Montana. After last weeks announcement that the Florida Everglades are to be extended by 187,000 hectares, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land have announced they have reached agreement to purchase approximately 320,000 acres of western Montana forestland from Plum Creek Timber Company (NYSE:PCL) for $510 million.
The purchase is part of an effort to keep these forests in productive timber management and protect the area's clean water and abundant fish and wildlife habitat, while promoting continued public access to these lands for fishing, hiking, hunting and other recreational pursuits.
One of the most ecologically diverse eco-systems in the United States
The lands in the agreement, which include part of the Swan Valley and areas surrounding Missoula, are located in the heart of the "Crown of the Continent," one of the most ecologically diverse and intact biological systems remaining in the United States.
"This is a landmark conservation project that will benefit the environment and help to maintain strong local communities," said Kat Imhoff, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Montana. "We are pleased that we were able to agree on terms that will protect some of the nation's most important wild areas."
Timber harvesting to continue
An important goal of the agreement is the continued support of local timber economies. Though many factors affect the timber industry in western Montana, the conservation of these lands for forest uses will contribute to stability of the land base and its forest productivity. A condition of the agreement provides for continued timber harvesting on some of these lands to help supply Plum Creek mills with wood fibre for up to 15 years. This harvesting will be third-party certified as sustainable forestry.
Grizzly, lynx and wolverine habitat
The lands to be purchased offer habitat for wide-ranging big game animals, grizzly bears, lynx, wolverine, bull trout and numerous other wildlife. These lands are also some of the most popular recreation areas in the western United States.
"Plum Creek has a strong history of conservation and is pleased to partner in the sale of this important land to accommodate the public interest in its ecological, recreational and timber production values," said Rick Holley, president and chief executive officer for Plum Creek. "With this sale, we are proud that the company has placed more than 860,000 acres of land in the country, including more than 600,000 acres in Montana, into permanent conservation."
Funding
Funding for the $510 million purchase could come from several private and public sources, including the new Qualified Conservation Forestry Bonds mechanism in the recently passed Farm Bill. The bonds would fund the purchase of lands adjacent to Forest Service ownership, lands that would eventually be conveyed to the Forest Service.