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Montana DNRC Forested
Trust Lands |
Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) |
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (MT DNRC)
Trust Land Management Division (TLMD) is developing a voluntary multi-species
habitat conservation plan in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS). The HCP intends to sustain DNRC management practices over
time while conserving habitat for five fish and wildlife species, three
of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The HCP
is being prepared to meet regulatory compliance with Section 10(a)(1)(B)
of the ESA. Section 10 provides a regulatory mechanism to allow for the
incidental take of federally endangered and threatened species of wildlife
by private interests and non-federal government agencies during lawful
land practices.
The HCP permit period is proposed to extend 50 years and covers forest management activities on classified forested state trust lands that provide habitat for species currently listed or having the potential to be listed under the ESA. Those species include: grizzly bear, Canada lynx, bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, and redband trout.
"Our mission is to manage the State of Montana's trust land resources to produce revenue for the trust beneficiaries while considering environmental factors and protecting the future income-generating capacity of the land."-- Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Trust Land Management Division.
