Hundreds “Rally for Public Lands” at Montana State Capitol

HELENA — On Thursday in Helena, a whole bunch of individuals braved below-zero temperatures and snow showers to “Rally for Public Lands” on the State Capitol.

This was the fifth legislative session that conservation organizations have held the Rally for Public Lands.

“Let’s type of make it possible for our legislators are conscious how essential our public lands are economically and for our outside high quality of life, and make it possible for as they’re doing their enterprise in the course of the session that they prioritize our entry and our capacity to proceed to recreate and revel in our households outdoors in our public lands,” mentioned Becky Edwards, govt director of Mountain Mamas, one of many sponsoring teams.

One of many audio system was Cole Mannix, who comes from a ranching household and is now president and founding father of Outdated Salt Co-Op, a locally-based meat processor and retailer that focuses on land stewardship.

“The mandate in our Structure since ’72, of a clear and healthful setting and for Montanans to take care of and enhance that – that is fairly easy, and it is I believe it is the perfect North Star for a citizenry that there may very well be,” he mentioned.

Mannix mentioned he’s significantly obsessed with forming stronger partnerships between agriculture and conservation in Montana.

“We’ve a lot in widespread,” he mentioned. “All of us eat, all of us breathe the air and drink the water. For our youngsters, for ourselves, defending and enhancing the Montana panorama – that is fairly widespread floor.”

A number of audio system at this 12 months’s rally objected to proposed payments that might redirect marijuana tax income away from the state’s Habitat Montana program, which offers incentives for landowners to preserve wildlife habitat on non-public land. Home Invoice 462 would shift that cash primarily to regulation enforcement, Senate Invoice 442 would direct it towards county street upkeep, and Home Invoice 669 would take marijuana income that at the moment goes towards Habitat Montana and a number of other different particular applications and redirect it to the overall fund.

This was the primary in-person Rally for Public Lands since 2019. In 2021, it was held on-line due to COVID.

Edwards mentioned it was essential to indicate how dedicated Montanans are to the state’s public lands.

“It is so many individuals, it is so bitter chilly as we speak, and it was so heartening to stroll up and see so many individuals making it a precedence to make their voices heard on behalf of their public lands,” she mentioned.