Natural Resources - Let's Talk About It
https://coloradowildlife.org/2024-conservation-in-the-west-polls-colorado-findings/
Montana’s at-risk natural resources are a heritage we must not take for granted.
Montanans are passionate about preserving our natural resources, public lands, and public access.
What should be done? Read further.
The Ravalli Democratic Committee recognizes Montana’s Natural Resources as a Treasured Heritage
We believe:
- There should be no net loss of publicly owned wildlands
- Natural resource management should ensure sustainable uses
- Properly functioning ecosystems, water, wildlife, and biodiversity should be preserved
- Conservation of natural resources requires long range land use planning
- Public lands should have public access
- Local communities and citizens should have opportunities to participate in natural resource management decisions
Montana Republicans are poor advocates for protecting natural resources
Wise use of our natural resources depends on sound science, citizen collaboration and respect for private property. It requires landscape level planning that considers land uses on both public and private lands.
Montana Republicans oppose such public/private planning. They support the granting of federally managed public lands to the state; oppose publicly funded conservation easements; and oppose any new federal special land designations without State Legislature Approval (Montana Party Platform, 2022).
Senator Steve Daines refuses to support Senator Tester’s highly popular, citizen based, collaboratively developed Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. This Bill would resolve conflicts and meet the desires of timber, wildlife, recreation, and Wilderness interests.
In contrast, Senator Daines continues to promote his controversial and unpopular SB 226 which would eliminate three Montana Wilderness Study Areas and strip protection from over 100,000 acres of prime elk habitat.
Governor Gianforte vetoed Senate Bill 442. This Bill had overwhelming bipartisan support to use marijuana tax revenue to fund not only wildlife and habitat conservation and Montana State Parks, but also aid Montana Veterans and support for county road maintenance.
Montana's natural resources need to be carefully protected and managed
Fish and wildlife that have disappeared from other parts of the West are still abundant in Montana.
However, the pressures and threats grow greater and more numerous with each passing year.
Habitat degradation, fragmentation, invasive species, pollution, disease, and climate change all threaten to harm wildlife that Montanans have fought so hard to restore and protect.
Some public lands are blocked to prevent public access. Roughly 1.5 million acres of public land are inaccessible in Montana due to being landlocked by private land or by individuals who illegally block access to public roads and waters.
Some Republican politicians want to sell our public lands to the highest bidder.
