Regardless of political party affiliation or belief, the citizens of Montana are unique in that we are all committed to a common idea: the protection of wild lands is essential to both preserving our way of life. life and nature of our state. Turning this commitment into a potential reality, Senator Jon Tester introduced the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act (BCSA), a federal law that would strengthen both the protection of nearly 80,000 acres, seeing them as being used for conservation and wildlife management, while simultaneously increasing the social and economic benefits citizens would receive if the bill were to pass.

If the BCSA were passed by Congress, the lands surrounding the Blackfoot and its four tributaries would receive permanent protection, along with the designation of two new extended public recreation areas designated for snowmobiling, hiking and biking. With Montana receiving $ 7 billion a year from outdoor recreation and $ 1.4 billion shared from hunting and fishing in 2017, the rationale for supporting public lands and preserving the outdoors is clear. Because of these benefits, more than 75% of Montana citizens support passage of the BCSA, which brings together a coalition of hunters, fishers, outfitters, logging companies and ranchers who support the bill.

Recently, Senator Steve Daines opposed the idea of ​​protecting Montana lands, suggesting that for protection of public lands to be strengthened, 300,000 separate acres would first need to be delisted from the region list. wild and lose their protection. This ‘out of the box’ approach to land conservation is supported by only 8% of the inhabitants of Montanan. supporting the passage of the BCSA and the increased protection of public lands.

Wyatt clark
Conrad