Spring Has Sprung: It’s Time to Protect Public Lands

With the coming of spring and warmer weather, Bozeman residents and outdoor lovers are looking forward to their favorite activities once again. The activities that Montanans love, including fishing, boating, camping, mountain biking and hiking, are only made possible by access to public lands across the state. So, now that we’re all getting back outside in the sun, it’s important to consider what keeps Montana wild and inviting to everyone. 

 In 1964, a bill called the Wilderness Act was passed in the House of Representatives, which allowed the state of Montana to conserve land and designate 15 wilderness areas to public land access. Since then, various nonprofit organizations and similar groups have dedicated themselves to upholding the Wilderness Act through protecting public land access. This ensures that anyone in Montana, both residents and visitors alike, can appreciate all of the beauty that this state has to offer.

Without the public lands that everyone enjoys for various activities, Montana wouldn’t be the same, especially for students here at MSU. For many students, their choice of attending MSU was strongly influenced by the wilderness and vast mountainscapes that surround the campus.Now more than ever, students and Montana residents alike need to fight to keep our lands public, or the ability to enjoy the outdoors will be severely diminished.

One organization that protects this right is Wild Montana. Wild Montana works to protect access to public land by supporting various policies that allow everyone to fully enjoy public lands and waters. Not only do they take part in politics concerning public land, they also organize volunteer projects to keep trails and other outdoor recreational areas clean. These various projects are open to the general population, so if you are interested in cleaning the land that many hold so dear, that option is available. In general, Wild Montana’s main goal is to keep the west wild, stating that their work “safeguards wildlands, secures wildlife habitat and migration corridors, and keeps the headwaters and streams running, cold, clear, and connected.” 

 Another organization that shares similar ideals is The Wilderness Society, a nonprofit that aims to defend the unique wilderness in the state of Montana. Contrary to Wild Montana, however, The Wilderness Society tries to make a change by clearly highlighting what issues are a threat to public land access, such as unnecessary roads through forests and similar construction projects. To combat these threats, The WIlderness Society boasts a wide variety of petitions that citizens can sign to enforce change. 

 Although these organizations work to make a difference, many voices backing these organizations are just as important. Now that the weather is beginning to warm and being outside is alluring once again, it’s time to consider how and why our public lands should remain public. Educating yourself on the different threats that currently oppose a ‘wild’ Montana is a great start. Another fantastic way to protect Montana lands is to support the nonprofit organizations that exist to protect Montana as a whole.

 Life in Montana is so unique and it is definitely worth protecting public lands.