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Gaining Ground

Montana

3,982,383

Acres Protected

That’s about 3,016,957 football fields!

Land trusts have already conserved 61 million acres of private land across the nation — more than all of the national parks combined. Help us conserve another 60 million acres by the end of the decade.

Together, let’s keep Gaining Ground.

Visitors to Land Trust Properties

11,150

Visitors in 2020, more than triple that of 2015.

Percent of Land Trusts That Provide Public Access to Their Lands

100%

Land trusts provide opportunities to recreate and recharge.

Number of People Served

4,083

Land trusts provide programs and activities to get people outside and learn about the land.

Miles of Trails

110

Walking, hiking and other outdoor recreation improve people's health and well-being.

Miles With Universal Access

17

Universal access trails are designed to be used by all people, regardless of ability.

Percent of Land Trusts Who Increased Community Engagement in the Last Five Years

83%

Land Trusts Are Deepening Relationships With:

  • People from various racial and ethnic backgrounds

  • Older adults or those living in retirement communities

  • People who identify as LGBTQ+

  • People living with disabilities

  • Veterans

Land Trusts Are Helping Address Community Needs, Including:

  • Youth education and development

  • Community and economic development

  • Food security and agriculture

  • Health and wellness

  • Social and environmental justice

Demographics

Every land trust is as unique as the community it serves.

Montana land trusts are community-led and supported and protect lands and waters that help the entire state.

Active Land Trusts

9

A land trust is a nonprofit that conserves land by acquiring and stewarding land or conservation easements.

Learn more about land trusts
Alliance Member Land Trusts

8

Land Trust Alliance members commit to adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices as their guiding principles.

Learn about the land trust alliance
Accredited Land Trusts

7

Accredited land trusts undergo a thorough review of their practices in governance, finance, transactions and stewardship.

Learn about land trust accreditation

People

  • Members/financial supporters

    241,514

  • Volunteers

    11,656

  • Full-time staff

    207

  • Part-time staff

    33

  • Board members

    131

Land Trust Longevity

  • Oldest

    50 years old (1972)

  • Youngest

    21 years old (2001)

  • Median age

    32 years old

State Association
Heart of the Rockies Initiative
View website
State Association
Montana Association of Land Trusts
View website
Percent of Land Trusts Who Increased Focus on Climate Change in the Last Five Years

67%

Percent of Land Trusts Receiving Funding to Address Climate Change

67%

Land Protected

There has been a 31% increase in Montana land protected by land trusts since 2010.

Acre by acre, land trusts are helping to conserve Montana lands, waters and ways of life.

2010
2015
2020
Total acres protected
3,050,449
3,457,702
3,982,383
+31%
Under easement
1,398,136
1,575,616
1,977,213
+41%
Owned
288,515
239,268
210,174
0%
Acquired and reconveyed
1,092,225
1,216,996
1,359,365
+24%
Protected by other means
271,572
485,053
435,631
+60%

Disclaimer: Land trusts conserve land in many different ways and every project is unique. Category totals may change depending on how acres are reported by survey respondents to reflect the most current data and minimize double-counting. In some instances, the total may be greater than the sum of the separate categories due to organizations that provided total acres not broken down by category.

Percent of Land Owned and Under Easement Held by an Accredited Land Trust

95%

Source: 2020 National Land Trust Census

Total Public Funding for Conservation From 1998-2017

$904 million

Source: Trust for Public Land's Conservation Almanac

Acres of Land Lost to Development From 2012-2017

20,100

Source: NRCS - Natural Resources Inventory

This information reflects data collected in the National Land Trust Census, the longest-running comprehensive survey of private land conservation in America. Learn more about the Census and see which land trusts participated in the 2020 National Land Trust Census.

Making a Difference

Montana land trusts are gaining ground.

Land trusts across the state are helping find solutions to some of Montana's most pressing issues.

  • Conserving wildlife habitat: The accredited Vital Ground Foundation was founded by the bear trainers Doug and Lynne Seus to honor the animals they worked with. What grizzlies need is room to roam, and Vital Ground has worked with willing landowners to conserve over 618, 000 acres of grizzly bear habitat in Montana, Washington and Idaho. The organization also works to reduce conflicts between grizzlies and people.

    Read more

  • Addressing community needs: The accredited Prickly Pear Land Trust partnered with National Guard training facility Fort Harrison and purchased 180 acres of land across from the fort and a Veterans Affairs hospital. They created Tenmile Creek Park, which helps soldiers, veterans, students, people with disabilities and others connect to nature with scenic picnic areas and trails that people who are not fully mobile can safely enjoy.

    Read more

  • Conserving family farms and ranches: The accredited Montana Land Reliance has worked with Montana's landowners to permanently protect agricultural lands, fish and wildlife habitat and open space. Since its founding in 1978, the organization has protected over 1 million acres.

    Read more

Land Trusts Working in Montana

Land Trust Alliance member land trusts, listed below, commit to adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices as their guiding principles.