Protecting Our Special Landscapes

Photo by Gravity Shots

The Flathead Valley is growing and changing, but if there is one common value that unites our community, it is an appreciation for our unparalleled land, water, wildlife, and their beauty.

Growth pressures and development can lead to the loss of scenic views, degraded water quality, loss of access, and loss of habitat. But, landowners can help protect their land forever.

Help Conserve a Special Place

Are you passionate about preserving the natural beauty and heritage of the Flathead? Conservation easements offer a powerful solution for landowners who wish to protect their special place in the landscape while ensuring the long-term maintenance of wildlife habitat connectivity, water quality, scenic beauty, and vital farmlands.

Together, let's safeguard the beauty and heritage of this exceptional place for future generations.

  • Conservation easements are agreements voluntarily entered into by landowners to protect the conservation values of their properties. Through these easements, landowners may choose to transfer the land to public or Tribal ownership or continue owning and managing it while safeguarding its unique attributes.

  • A conservation easement can protect your property’s conservation values and the Flathead’s natural beauty and heritage. Whether it's safeguarding open space, wildlife habitats, water quality, farmland, wetlands, forests, or riparian areas, these easements ensure these critical features endure for generations to come.

  • Conservation easements are an effective tool for private landowners who wish to maintain ownership and management of their lands while ensuring that the essential conservation values remain intact in perpetuity. Conservation easements protect important landscape and community values – such as open space, wildlife, water quality, farmland, wetland, forest, or riparian values.

  • By engaging with a local land trust, you can learn more about conservation easements and explore how you can contribute to preserving the Flathead's natural legacy. Visit montanalandtrusts.org to deepen your understanding of conservation easements or reach out to a nearby land trust to discuss their services and the options available to you.

  • Flathead Land Trust

    The Flathead Land Trust is dedicated to protecting northwest Montana’s spectacular land and water legacy through community-based conservation.

  • Montana Land Reliance

    The Montana Land Reliance partners with Montana’s landowners to permanently protect agricultural lands, fish and wildlife habitat, and open space.

  • Habitat Montana Program

    The Habitat Montana is the state’s program to protect critical wildlife habitat and provide public access to the outdoors. It helps local landowners voluntarily protect their private lands.

  • Flathead River to Lake Initiative

    R2L partners work with landowners to conserve and restore our Flathead River and Lake natural heritage. Learn about collaborative local conservation successes.