Film looks at history of conservation easements in state
HEIDI DESCH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 9 years, 4 months AGO
A new film “On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of Montana Private Land Conservation” in Whitefish will be shown at the O’Shaughnessy Center on March 11. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.
DEPUTY EDITOR, FEATURES Heidi Desch is the Deputy Editor at the Daily Inter Lake, overseeing coverage of arts, culture, lifestyle, community, and business. Desch leads reporters in developing stories that highlight the people, traditions, and events shaping Northwest Montana, guiding content across print and digital platforms. With more than 20 years of journalism experience, including serving as managing editor of the Whitefish Pilot, Desch is a graduate of the University of Montana School of Journalism. She has received multiple Montana Newspaper Association awards, including part of the team leading the Daily Inter Lake to Best Daily Newspaper in Montana Award and the General Excellence Award in 2024 and 2025. IMPACT: Heidi’s work connects readers with stories that deepen the understanding of the community beyond daily news. | March 7, 2017 2:50 PM
It’s been 40 years since the first land conservation easement was created in Montana.
Flathead Land Trust, Montana Land Reliance, and the Vital Ground Foundation will be screening a new film “On the Shoulders of Giants: The Story of Montana Private Land Conservation” in Whitefish on March 11 as a way to celebrate the anniversary.
“It’s a phenomenal film,” Paul Travis, executive director of the Flathead Land Trust said. “It tells the story of land conservation in Montana. Our state is the national leader in private land conservation and land trusts have protected over 2.4 million acres.”
The event is free and open to the public with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and program starting at 6 p.m. at the O’Shaughnessy Center downtown.
Travis said Whitefish was selected to premiere the film as a way to celebrate the Haskill Basin conservation easement. The easement completed last year protects about 3,000 acres of forestland northeast of Whitefish and is profiled in the film along with several others in northwest Montana and across the state.
The film is a 21-minute story about the value of conservation to Montana’s landscape, economy and way of life. The film’s photography captures the state’s beautiful landscapes while weaving in interviews about the impact of conservation easements.
Since 1976, Montana landowners have partnered with land trusts and agencies to conserve 2.4 million acres of private land throughout the state. Given the positive economic benefits such as preserving family farms and ranches and maintaining water quality and wildlife habitat associated with Montana private land conservation, these voluntary land conservation efforts will become even more important in the future, according to the Flathead Land Trust.
The event will also include the screening of other short films and presentations about local conservation efforts in northwest Montana.
Great Northern Brewery will be serving beer and wine which will be available for purchase.
For more information, contact Travis at [email protected] or 406-752-8293.
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