Saving the Big Sky : a chronicle of land conservation in Montana / Bruce A. Bugbee, Robert J. Kiesling, John B. Wright ; with contributions from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Shane Doyle (Apsáalooke), Steve Running, and Todd Wilkinson ; maps supervised by Kevin McManigal and Hannah Shafer ; photographs by Kevin League.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bugbee, Bruce A., Author.

Kiesling, Robert J., author.

Wright, John B. (John Burghardt), 1950- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Natural areas--Montana.

Natural areas.

Protected areas--Montana.

Protected areas.

Land use, Rural--Montana.

Land use, Rural.

Nature conservation--Montana.

Nature conservation.

Biodiversity conservation--Montana.

Biodiversity conservation.

Physical Description:

xi, 226 pages : color illustrations, color maps ; 35 cm

Place of Publication:

Corvallis, OR : Oregon State University Press, 2025.

Summary:

""The essential purpose of Saving the Big Sky is to inspire the reader to help conserve even more of Montana," write Bruce Bugbee, Robert Kiesling, and John Wright in this compelling study of how six million acres of biodiverse land were conserved in Montana over the past fifty years. Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge about land stewardship has evolved and since the 1970s tribes, nonprofit organizations, land trusts, and government agencies have conserved land in many creative ways. Beautifully illustrated with more than ninety color photographs and thirty detailed maps, Saving the Big Sky showcases land conservation achievements across eight regions of the state: the Rocky Mountain Front, the Blackfoot Valley, the Greater Yellowstone, the Missoula Region, the Helena Region, Northwest Montana, the Flathead Indian Reservation, and the American Prairie. Land protection is shown to work best when large, intact, connected landscapes can be conserved, rather than small, fragmented, isolated parcels. Conservationists have found that landowners in Montana more widely accept conservation easements and other voluntary, financially compensating tools that respect private property rights. The brilliant images and striking before-and-after maps featured here celebrate the ranches, farms, wildlife habitats, and scenic open spaces that are forever safeguarded. In documenting conservation accomplishments and suggesting what more can be done, Saving the Big Sky invites readers to participate in conserving Montana-or whatever cherished landscape they call home"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Land stewardship

Nature's Montana

Native voices

Ranching

Homesteading

Land subdivision

Land conservation

Montana : a state of grace

The Rocky Mountain front

The Blackfoot

The greater Yellowstone

The Missoula region

Northwest Montana

The Flathead reservation

The Helena region

The prairie

The crucial role of capital

Making certain it goes on.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781962645362

1962645363

OCLC:

1464589578