Ovando, MT—October 9, 2003—The Blackfoot Challenge today announced an agreement for the purchase of approximately 41,000 acres of land in the Blackfoot River Valley in west-central Montana for approximately $30 million. The Blackfoot Challenge, a local group of private landowners, public agencies, and conservation groups, worked with one of their partners, The Nature Conservancy, to secure a multi-year agreement to purchase these lands from Plum Creek. This sale is expected to close in 2004.

The Blackfoot Challenge, which has a long history of stewardship and conservation in the valley, has spearheaded a community-wide planning effort to guide the future ownership and management of these lands. The goal, according to the Challenge, is to maintain traditional uses in the valley-- ranching, forestry, public access, and wildlife habitat.

“The acquisition of these lands offers a tremendous opportunity for the Blackfoot community to determine our future and protect our way of life,” said Jim Stone, local rancher and chairman of the Blackfoot Challenge.

“With this effort to purchase and re-sell these lands according to a community-agreed-upon plan, we’ll be able to keep lands intact which will be positive for agriculture in the valley,” said Randy Mannix, Helmville rancher and member of the Blackfoot Challenge.

The project will also help preserve recreational opportunities and access to public lands.  “I don’t think many people know how much of the land they use is actually Plum Creek land,” said Bob Bushnell, a community leader from Lincoln, Montana. “Maintaining access to these lands is pivotal to the local economy.”

It will also be good for sustaining one of the most intact landscapes in Montana known for its wide-ranging wildlife and native fisheries.  “Our goal in facilitating this transaction is to help the Blackfoot Challenge maintain the special character of the Blackfoot River Valley and its outstanding wildlife habitat,” says Jamie Williams, state director of The Nature Conservancy of Montana.  “The Blackfoot is one of the bright spots for local leadership in maintaining the unique natural and cultural character of their valley over the last 25 years,” added Williams.

The Blackfoot Challenge, working with its conservation and agency partners, has led conservation and stewardship efforts in the valley that has seen more than 50 river miles and 85,000 acres in the watershed placed under conservation agreements. The first conservation easement in the state of Montana was signed in 1976 in the Blackfoot.

"Plum Creek recognizes that the Blackfoot River Valley is a special place in Montana,” said Tom Ray, general manager, Northwest Region, Plum Creek.  “In 1996, we sold 11,700 acres along the Blackfoot River to The Nature Conservancy of Montana.  We are pleased to assist once again in the sale of important land to accommodate public interest in the conservation, economic and other community values associated with this property.”

Recognizing the potential sale of forest lands in the Blackfoot, the Challenge began a     2-year collaborative process to identify key community values it would like to see maintained. “We’re working with our community leaders and the community as a whole to determine the best solution for these lands,” says Stone.  The Challenge is developing a disposition and management plan, which will guide which lands will become public and which will be sold into private ownership. Both will have safeguards to protect their biological and community values.

The success of this local collaborative project depends on private and public funding.  To this end, the Challenge is extremely grateful for Senator Conrad Burn’s support of the project. "It just makes sense," said U.S. Senator Conrad Burns.  "I've supported this purchase from its beginning because giving Montana the power to decide its own economic future is really what the federal government is about," he continued.  "There is nothing more important to me than maintaining the integrity of our lands in the eyes of those who live, work and play on it."

If this project is successful, The Blackfoot Challenge and its partners anticipate working with Plum Creek to acquire an additional 48,000 acres, which are under option through this agreement, for approximately $38 million.

“I applaud the cooperative effort that was required for this project,” said Montana’s Governor Judy Martz.  “It has taken extensive commitment by all those involved and their commitment to the land, the community and the people of this area will be rewarded for generations to come.”

Added Jim Stone, “We’re doing what’s right for our communities by continuing to support good stewardship, looking long term and saying ‘we can determine our future’.”

The Blackfoot Challenge, comprised of local landowners, federal and state land managers, local government officials and corporate landowners, has been working in the Blackfoot Valley for 10 years to coordinate conservation efforts in the watershed.
 
The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit conservation organization that conserves critical habitats for plants, animals and natural communities. Since 1979, the Conservancy’s Montana chapter, based in Helena and with six community-based programs around the state, has worked with landowners to protect over 441,687 acres of land in Montana.

Plum Creek is one of the largest land and timber owners in the nation, with over eight million acres of timberlands in major timber producing regions throughout the United States and 10 wood products manufacturing facilities in the Northwest.