Governor Marc Racicot today lauded the land-conservation ethic of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commissions saying their work and achievements will be the conservation hallmarks of the 1990s. "Eight years ago, I don’t think anyone could have imagined the important land- conservation ethic this commission would forge for Montana," Racicot said. "Its work is unprecedented in the West and it will long be remembered, admired, and perhaps envied by others who will surely attempt to emulate this commission’s success." In the early 1990s, FWP was given more authority and additional funding for the conservation of critical wildlife habitat. At the time, public opposition and skepticism was aimed at FWPs land-acquisition and conservation-easement projects. By working closely with Montana landowners, county commissioners and others, the FWP Commission diminished land-conservation controversies and began to successfully strike public agreements to conserve wild and cultivated lands important to wildlife. FWP Director Pat Graham, who presented an award to the three departing commissioners during their meeting today in Helena, acknowledged the FWP Commission for approving 95 acquisitions of approximately 39,000 acres and 40 conservation easements on 328,000 acres. Graham also noted the cooperation of landowners and the efforts of FWP staff. "To put this work in perspective, in the 50 years since FWP acquired its first wildlife management area, 500,000 acres of wildlife habitats were protected by this agency. In the past eight years, this commission has protected 360,000 acres to benefit wildlife conservation." Graham noted that the commission helped to spearhead the largest conservation easement in Montana’s history with the recent acquisition of 140,000 acres in the Thompson and Fisher river valleys in northwest Montana. The nearly $30 million agreement between FWP and Plum Creek Timber Company will be a phased acquisition utilizing dam mitigation funding from Bonneville Power Administration and Avista Corporation, the federal Forest Legacy Program, and a $1.6 million donation by Plum Creek Lumber. "I could not be more pleased with this commission’s land-conservation accomplishments which history will judge as the conservation hallmark of the 1990s," Racicot said. The departing FWP Commissioners are Chairman Stan Meyer, Great Falls; Vice Chairman Dave Simpson, Hardin; Commissioner Charlie Decker, Libby. Gov. Racicot appointed the three to their posts in January 1993. Gov.-elect Judy Martz is expected to appoint three new FWP Commissioners early next year. Commissioners Darlyne Dascher of Fort Peck, and Tim Mulligan of Whitehall will serve through 2002.
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