Applications available for FWP’s Habitat Conservation Lease Program

HELENA – Beginning today, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications for its Habitat Conservation Lease Program.

A habitat conservation lease is a voluntary, incentive-based agreement between FWPand private landowners in which the landowner commits to specific land management practices that protect priority wildlife habitat. In turn, FWP pays landowners a one-time per-acre fee for the lease. These agreements have a term length of 30 and 40 years. The lease program is in addition to the conservation tools already available to landowners.

The focus of the Habitat Conservation Lease Program is primarily for prairie and wetland habitats, with a priority on sage-grouse core areas and other plains habitats. In areas critical to sage-grouse, these leases will ensure habitat protections that help keep populations healthy and allow the bird to remain off the Endangered Species List.

Habitat conservation leases will maintain native habitats by protecting them from specific disturbances including tillage, energy development, building construction andwetland filling or draining. Normal agricultural operations and noxious weed control will not be impacted.

The Habitat Conservation Lease Program potentially could protect up to 500,000 acres in the next five years.

Public access also will be part of the lease, but details are specific to each agreement.

More information and applications for the program are available on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/conservation/habitat/habitat-conservation/lease-program. The deadline for applications is Nov. 30.