Amidst the haste, the fighting, the devastation, the chaos, it can outright medicinal to take in and digest a simple act of beauty. However flawed and human, however compromised. Last June, Senator Max Baucus, (D-MT) often not our favorite Dem, helped the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land preserve a massive swath of western Montana!
This region holds perhaps the greatest store of ecologic riches in the Lower 48. -- Kat Imhoff, director for the Nature Conservancy in Montana
Pictures and details below the flap...
It's called the "Crown of the Continent", an area totalling 10 million acres in Canada and Montana. The Blackfoot Nation calls it the Backbone of the World. For all its vastness, the 320,000 acre Montana preserve seems pretty well connected (lack of habitat fragmentation) for critters and plant species to traverse and maintain genetic diversity.
Click here for an enlarged map of Crown of the Continent Preserve
And not only is this area vast, it's also unique in not facing a single animal extinction for 200 years. Lynxes, bears, wolverine, bull trout are all here.
"Landmark". The cherished wildernesses that sustained and built the Western character in many of our fighting Dems, rugged Independents and libertarian-minded Republicans is under attack. Millionaires and corporations buy up whole forests and valleys that baby boomers and silent generationers used as common land in their youth. Hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing.
And how did this deal come to pass? The Farm Bill:
This would be the first forest-protection effort to receive these newly designated bonds, which were championed by U.S. Senator Max Baucus of Montana.
"This project is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to protect these lands for our families and future generations," said Montana Senator Max Baucus, who helped facilitate the agreement.
"It will keep jobs in Montana, help maintain our communities and our working forests, and preserve public access for hunting and fishing. This will be the most significant land conservation project in the state's history, by far, and I'm proud to be part of it."
(Pink monkeyflowers and waterfall from somewhere in the Crown)
Timber will be sustainably harvested under NC's management. Outdoor athletes and adventurers will continue to be able to access the land. Outsiders, especially environmental purists, need to realize that clear-cutting is by far still widely practiced in Montana, along the Oregon Coast, anywhere away from the visibility for a cosmopolitan population with the money and the voice to object. This is indeed "historic".
The Nature Conservancy is my favorite non-profit, operating on every continent, earning respect and trust where they go.
((Looking at Mt. Jackson.)
The Nature Conservancy rated as one of the most trusted national organizations in Harris Interactive polls in 2007[5], 2006 [6], and 2005 poll[7]. Forbes magazine rated The Nature Conservancy's fundraising efficiency at 88% in its 2005 survey of the largest U.S. charities.[8] The Conservancy received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator in 2005[9] and was named by the organization that year on their list of "10 of the Best Charities Everyone's Heard Of." --wikipedia
They've protected a total of 117 million acres and 5000 rivers globally. You can find a preserve they manage nearest you on their website (left column). Gorgeous places to take friends or family if you have the chance.
What can you do to help? First of all help out the underdogs running for Congress against anti-science whackos. On the first day of the new quarter. Larry LaRocco is only behind Jim Risch by 5% on poblano's 538 Senate projections. LaRocco would be a great improvement in Larry Craig's Senate seat, considering "toe-tapper's" environmental history. Similarly Andrew Rice will make a great progressive Senator for Oklahoma, help him oust Inhofe! Get more Democrats in there to help Western Dems like Sen. Baucus and Sen. Tester preserve our heritage!
And, of course, you can always donate or volunteer for the Nature Conservancy. Thanks to them and Sen. Baucus, Montanans may be able to enjoy the Crown for centuries.
A Dem is a Dem is a Dem.
UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who chipped in for Andrew Rice yesterday at the end of the quarter.
Also, it looks like Larry LaRocco isn't part of the Daily Kos Orange to Blue effort. Maybe we can change this. Poblano is showing Risch beating LaRocco by only 5% over at 538.