Montana is a Popular Place

A study shows Montana is among the nation's most popular states. Lots of reasons for that, including our landscape. http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/editorial/gazette-opinion/gazette-opinion-popularity-poll-those-who-know-montana-like-it/article_485a7e91-1036-5325-a9ab-2f9f65acd9b3.html

Travelers Help Fund Hamilton Community Park Project

Great article in the Ravalli Republic about a conservation project Travelers for Open Land is helping fund. This is an exciting project for the community of Hamilton. http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_2239c1b2-5e9e-11e1-a743-0019bb2963f4.html

Prickly Pear Land Trust Receives Accreditation

Congratulations to Prickly Pear Land Trust of Helena, America's newest accredited land trust. Great work, PPLT. Prickly Pear Land Trust recently received a Travelers for Open Land grant. http://helenair.com/news/local/prickly-pear-land-trust-gets-national-accreditation/article_a983073c-5ceb-11e1-97cc-0019bb2963f4.html

Travelers Grant Help Conserve Flathead Wetlands

The Travelers for Open Land grant to Flathead Land Trust received some recognition in the Kalispell Daily Interlake. The grant will help fund work to conserve wetlands and waterfowl habitat. http://dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_333aaa26-59f3-11e1-9b54-0019bb2963f4.html

One Reason Why Open Land is so Valuable

There are lots of reasons to value open land. Here's one key reason. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120219/NEWS01/202190317/Wheat-crop-valued-1-3-billion-2011

Helena IR Gives Thumbs Up to Travelers for Open Land

Nice article in the Helena IR about the benefits of Travelers for Open Land and the projects the Travelers program has helped fund. This is a photo of the Milburn project near Helena.

Conservation Fund was Kennedy's Valentine

Deb Love at The Trust for Public Land puts the Land and Water Conservation Fund into an interesting historical perspective in a letter to the editor published in the Missoulian. http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/conservation-fund-was-kennedy-s-valentine-to-future-generations/article_e8088242-5733-11e1-88c8-001871e3ce6c.html

Homegrown Conservation: Travelers for Open Land

Great column in the Bozeman Chronicle about Travelers for Open Land. http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/guest_columnists/article_f29d26a4-5666-11e1-bb5a-0019bb2963f4.html Thanks Kelly!

TFOL Awards $35,000 for Land Conservation Grants

Congratulations to the seven Montana Association of Land Trusts members that will share $35,000 in Travelers for Open Land grants. Thank you to the participating businesses and all the people who donated to make the grants possible! More info to follow.

Finding Common Ground

Great project near Troy that keeps working lands working, conserves wildlife habitat and maintains recreational access. http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/finding_common_ground/26535/

From Generation to Generation

Interesting story in the Bozeman Chronicle about the difficulty of passing the family farm or ranch to the next generation. Conservation easements are mentioned as one tool to ease that transfer. http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/agriculture/article_ef244bc0-4fa8-11e1-bbb5-001871e3ce6c.html

Montanans Say Conservation is Important

Interesting poll produced by Colorado College about Montana and land conservation. The message in the polls is pretty clear: Jobs are very important, but so is conservation. http://www2.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewestsurvey_e.html