FWP proposing purchase of conservation easement to protect over 27,000 acres of timberland near Libby

Kalispell — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving forward with a recommendation to the Fish and Wildlife Commission to purchase a conservation easement to protect approximately 27,289 acres of timberland and wildlife habitat near Libby in northwest Montana.

The proposed property, known as Kootenai Forestlands Phase II, is owned by Stimson Lumber Company and would remain privately owned if the easement were approved. FWP would hold the easement, which would allow Stimson to continue managing the property while precluding residential and commercial development and protecting important wildlife habitat and landscape connectivity. It would also provide permanent public access for recreational opportunities, such as hunting and fishing, on the property.

FWP released the proposed project for public input from June 29-July 28, 2021. FWP received 71 public comments with 68 expressing support and two opposed; one comment was a question. To review the comments and FWP responses in its environmental assessment, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.

Completion of this project would build on the success of other nearby large conservation easements funded by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, including the 142,000-acre Thompson-Fisher Conservation Easement, the 28,000-acre Kootenai Valleys Conservation Easement, and the 22,295-acre Kootenai Forestlands Phase I Conservation Easement, which was the first phase of this current proposal. Forest Legacy projects in Montana and Idaho have cumulatively helped conserve over 300,000 acres of working lands.