HELENA, Mont. – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks received on Thursday tentative approval to enroll 10 eastern Montana properties in a newly launched state program to conserve prairie habitat.
The Prairie Habitat Conservation Lease program’s objective is to put 500,000 acres of eastern Montana prairie into 40-year conservation lease agreements to protect the habitat.
Many species of animals live in this type of habitat, such as pronghorns and sage grouse, which have seen declines in their populations over the years.
The first round of leases encompasses over 50,000 acres, including an 11,600-acre property south of Malta.
The Montana Land board needs to sign off on the leases for this to happen, due to the agreement being over $1 million.
