In Montana and across the West, there’s a growing consensus that federal public lands deserve management reform. But as the costs of wildland firefighting skyrocket and timber harvests diminish, hammering out a remedy has been a polarizing point of contention for lawmakers, land managers and conservationists alike.
With the notion of transferring federal public lands to state ownership gaining traction among some of Montana’s political figures, the Beacon takes a look at the situation surrounding federal lands.
Montana Federal-Lands Policy Turns Political
Should Montana attempt to wrest control of public lands from federal government? Land managers are pushing back against the notion of a land transfer, but the idea has gained momentum among some state legislators. READ MORE
The Face of Environmental Activism
After 30 years of challenging forest managers and users in the name of wild land and wildlife, supporters cheer Keith Hammer’s ongoing efforts while his critics decry his constant litigation that can stall a project for years. READ MORE