Some Good News for Nature

Two organizations have announced plans to conserve nearly 500 sq. miles of western Montana forestland -- the only ecosystem in the country which hasn't experienced an animal extinction since it was discovered by Lewis and Clark. It's also the largest piece of land purchased for conservation in U.S. history.

The groups, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Land, plan to buy the land, situated in the Rocky Mountains, from the Plumb Creek Timber Company for $510 million. Some of that land will be privately owned, some state-owned and some owned by the federal government.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who helped broker the deal, says the plan will keep jobs in Montana and preserve areas for hunting and fishing -- which will likely help bolster the state's healthy tourism industry.

print Share

Register or log in to rate