Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks introduced a proposal two years ago to allocate Habitat Montana funds towards 30- and 40-year conservation leases, presenting it as a new conservation planning tool. The program has now been approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, with another round of agreements open for public comment. The process involves interested landowners outlining the habitat potential of their property, specifying public access terms, and selecting a 30- or 40-year lease. FWP evaluates the applications, sets lease values, and presents the top applications to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission for approval.
The Conservation Lease Program has faced criticism for potentially weakening Habitat Montana, which has protected wildlife habitat through land purchases and conservation easements. FWP intends to lease 500,000 acres of prairie habitat over the next five years, relying on public funding, primarily from Habitat Montana funds derived from nonresident hunting licenses and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.
Despite concerns, the program aims to provide landowners with options to protect habitats while preserving agricultural use. Critics worry that the program may divert funds from permanent conservation easements at a time when development pressure is increasing. Calls for more transparency in the evaluation process have been made to ensure public funds are effectively utilized for habitat conservation.
Public land access advocates have expressed concerns about the lack of information regarding access in the proposed lease agreements. The Montana Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers stresses the importance of robust public access provisions in exchange for public funding towards habitat conservation on private lands.
FWP’s Conservation Lease Program has sparked debate over the effectiveness of temporary leases versus permanent easements in securing wildlife habitat. The agency aims to streamline the evaluation process by adopting an Environmental Assessment to facilitate lease agreements. However, some critics question the thoroughness of the assessment and the long-term conservation benefits of the program.
As the program evolves, stakeholders like Montana Wildlife Federation and conservationists emphasize the need for a balance between conservation and private land use. The public comment period for proposed Habitat Conservation Leases is open until August 9, allowing stakeholders to provide feedback on specific lease agreements.