Tester preserving Montana’s Crown of the Continent

Senator calls on Forest Service to continue support for conservation effort, Montana’s economy

(BIG SANDY, Mont.) – Senator Jon Tester is calling on the U.S. Forest Service to continue supporting Montana’s Crown of the Continent conservation initiative.

The Crown of the Continent is a widely supported conservation initiative that preserves the Treasure State’s most pristine mountain environments. Funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the Crown of the Continent project protects iconic Montana landscapes such as Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Recent changes to how the Forest Service prioritizes conservation projects led Tester to voice his support for the inter-agency project and remind the Forest Service about its contributions to Montana’s economy.

“Cost-effective, collaborative and impactful, this project proves that we can make conservation work for communities and the environment,” Tester told Forest Service Regional Forester Faye Krueger. “It is widely supported by conservationists, recreationists and the local communities. Protecting this landscape for future generations is not only a boon for the ecosystem, but also for Montana’s outdoor economy.”

Montana’s outdoor economy contributes nearly $6 billion each year to Montana’s economy.

Tester, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is a long-time supporter of the Crown of the Continent and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In 2012 he helped reauthorize LWCF and amended it to ensure that the federal government makes access to public lands a top priority.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund supports numerous Montana projects, including ranchland conservation along the Rocky Mountain Front and in the Blackfoot Valley, as well as prized hunting and fishing acquisitions such as the Tenderfoot Acquisition and the Montana Legacy Project.

Tester’s letter to Forest Service Regional Forester Faye Krueger by les_braswell5524