Article Summary –
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has received tentative approval to enroll ten eastern Montana properties in a program to conserve prairie habitat. The aim of the program is to conserve 500,000 acres of prairie in 40-year lease agreements, supporting ongoing agricultural operations, public hunting, and other forms of wildlife-related recreation. The first round of leases covers more than 52,000 acres, and will be funded by a variety of sources including Habitat Montana, the Migratory Bird Wetland Program and the Pittman-Robertson fund.
Montana Launches Prairie Conservation Program
The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) has received preliminary approval to incorporate 10 eastern Montana properties into its Prairie Habitat Conservation Lease Program. The new initiative aims to preserve 500,000 acres of eastern Montana prairie under 40-year conservation lease agreements.
The program’s main objective is to conserve the habitat of various prairie species, from mule deer and pronghorns to waterfowl, sage grouse and grassland birds. The leases also support agriculture, public hunting, and wildlife-related recreation. According to an FWP memo, the initiative could help prevent the federal listing of threatened native species.
The first batch of leases represents over 52,000 acres. The largest lease requires a $1.4 million payment for a 40-year conservation agreement on an 11,600-acre property south of Malta. The Montana Land Board needs to approve this lease and seven others, as per a 2021 law.
All 10 properties will permit some degree of public hunting during hunting seasons, typically from September through December, says Ken McDonald from FWP’s wildlife division. The leases will be financed by multiple sources, including the Migratory Bird Wetland Program and the Pittman-Robertson fund, which redirects federal taxes on hunting and archery equipment toward state-led wildlife restoration projects.
Many have expressed support for the program, despite some initial hesitations about its shift away from perpetual easements. Critics have stated that term-limited leases do not offer the same value as permanent conservation leases of equivalent cost. Despite this, temporary leases are seen as better than no leases at all, and provide additional benefits like safeguarding habitats, increasing public access, and supporting local farmers and ranchers.
The program also enables quicker approval and greater certainty than the traditional permanent conservation easements in Montana. Future lease agreements will undergo similar approval processes with the commission.
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