Bozeman Magazine

On April 8 in Bozeman, Stephen Capra, Executive Director of Bold Visions Conservation, will present his vision for a new Madison Gallatin Wildlife National Monument. Capra has thirty years’ experience in fighting for public lands and threatened wildlife in the west. He spearheaded the creation of two national monuments in New Mexico: Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountain Desert Peaks.

Capra plans to speak in the Large Community Room at the Bozeman Public Library on April 8 at 6:30 PM.

Capra said “The Yellowstone Ecosystem shelters populations of iconic, threatened wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, bison, wolverines, and bighorn sheep. But it’s becoming ever clearer that Yellowstone and Grand Teton parks are not big enough to assure long term survival of these species. It was here some of these animals made their last stand, and it is from here they need to expand.”

Phil Knight, long-time advocate for wildlife and public lands from Bozeman, said “We have the largest unprotected roadless area in Montana, the Gallatin Range, right here in our big back yard. Protecting the Gallatins is part of the vision for this national monument. I support this vision for a new national monument. We need to think outside the box and entertain true visionary ideas in a rapidly changing world.”

The new monument would protect 1.6 million acres of national forest in the Madison and Gallatin ranges and around Island Park Idaho, preserving vast lands that provide essential year round habit for Yellowstone wildlife. Bold Visons hopes to convince President Biden to set aside this national monument.

Capra noted that “The human population of the Yellowstone region is booming and sprawling subdivisons are paving over some of the best wildlife habitat. Meanwhile national forests are getting hammered by a US Forest Service bent on timber extraction and damn the consequences. Recreational use is clashing with wildlife survival. We need a better vision for this Yellowstone landscape where nature still has a chance. That vison is the Madison Gallatin Wildlife National Monument.

For more information contact Bold Visions Conservation www.bvconservation.org 406 370 3028

See the new National Monument proposal at http://www.bvconservation.org/land