Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approves purchase of 53,000

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved a proposal to purchase a 52,930-acre conservation easement in the Cabinet Mountains.

The proposed purchase represents the second and final phase of the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement. State officials sealed the deal on the first phase of the project in February with the purchase of a 32,821-acre conservation easement near the Thompson chain of lakes from Green Diamond Resource Company. The Montana Land Board is expected to make a final vote on the second phase of the project before the year’s end.

Under the terms of the conservation easement, Green Diamond would retain primary ownership of the forestlands, including the right to harvest timber products. The state would gain the right to manage certain aspects of