Regarding The Monitor’s article, “Protected, at a price” (Oct. 9): Next time you see a rancher, thank them for keeping land intact. And if they have one, thank them for their conservation easement.
A conservation easement protects land from development. It is one of the few tools available to ranchers to keep Montana the place we all know and love. That’s more important than it’s ever been. Not sure why? Drive down to Bozeman to see what we stand to lose. We don’t need more rural sprawl.
For 30 years, Prickly Pear Land Trust (PPLT) has tried to protect working lands and open space in our corner of Montana. I say “our” because I grew up in Boulder and graduated from Jefferson County High School. I work at PPLT to protect my childhood home from the growth and development threatening everything I love — the agriculture, wildlife, open space, trails, and small towns that define our region.
We need more land protection, not less. Some counties use open space bonds to protect open lands, but in Jefferson County there’s no public funding for conservation easements, so landowners donate the value of their easements. Why would they do this? In most cases, it’s because they want the next generation to be able to work the land, and they value clean water, hunting, fishing, and public access.
Private landowners make that decision after a lot of research and reflection, and sometimes they face opposition from neighbors. We’re all fortunate that ranchers, farmers, and other landowners are willing to make that sacrifice because it benefits us and future generations.
A conservation easement is a private property decision, so PPLT can’t in good faith discuss those agreements before they are final. Once the ink is dry and the landowner is satisfied, we’re happy to chat about this vital work.
Mary Hollow is executive director of the Prickly Pear Land Trust.
