Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks approved the purchase of a 52,930-acre conservation easement in the Cabinet Mountains earlier this month.

If approved by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Montana Land Board, the purchase would add to the existing 32,821-acre Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement that state officials purchased from Green Diamond Resource Company in February. 

While Green Diamond would retain primary ownership of the proposed conservation easement, the agreement would grant the state rights to manage certain aspects of the land for the benefit of wildlife and outdoor recreation. If the land is later sold, these terms carry on to the next owner, creating “de facto public lands.” 

“The proposed conservation easement would prevent development, protect important wildlife habitat, maintain key landscape connectivity and provide permanent free public recreation access to the affected lands,” wrote state officials in a final decision notice on issued July 7. 

An environmental assessment conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimated that the 53,000-acre area produces about 3 million board feet of timber each year, contributing about $12 million to the local economy. While Green Diamond could continue to harvest timber from the land following the purchase of the conservation easement, the company would have to follow guidelines to ensure ample wildlife habitat remains.   

Threatened species like grizzly bears, Canada lynx and wolverines have all been observed on the property, and some 1,500 deer, elk and moose roam the woods. The abundance of wildlife has long enticed hunters and other outdoor recreationalists to visit the property.  

Green Diamond and its predecessors, Weyerhaeuser and Southern Pine Plantations, have historically allowed recreational use on their property, but the terms of the conservation easement would ensure public access remains even if the land is sold.   

According to a report from Headwaters Economics, 49,120 acres of undeveloped land in Flathead County was converted to housing between 2000 and 2021, and the project’s environmental assessment claims that landowners like Green Diamond have received upwards of 16 unsolicited offers per month to sell parcels of land in the Cabinet Mountains.  

“Without a conservation easement, residential subdivision would likely occur over portions of the property,” reads the environmental assessment.  

The conservation easement was appraised for a purchase price of $57.5 million, but Green Diamond is contributing an in-kind donation of $20 million. About $35.8 million is expected to come from the United States Forest Legacy Program, and $1.7 million will be contributed from state funds. 

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is accepting public comments on the project through Aug. 4. A vote is scheduled for Aug. 21. 

If approved by the commission, the proposal would then move to the Montana Land Board for final approval. 

Reporter Hailey Smalley may be reached at 758-4433 or [email protected].