HELENA – The Nature Conservancy says it has transferred 800 acres of former Plum Creek Timber land to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Nature Conservancy bought the land that straddles the ridge separating the Seeley and Swan valleys in 2008. It is surrounded by Forest Service land holdings and is part of a corridor for wildlife.
The organization said Thursday that handing the land over to the Forest Service removes the threat of development.
It is part of the Nature Conservancy’s Montana Legacy Project in which the organization aims to transfer 310,000 acres to public ownership.
The conservancy says it also sold 449 acres in West Lolo Creek and 1306 acres in Upper Petty Creek to the federal agency.